FGR dismisses claims of concession release for community mining in Bogoso
Mining firm, Future Global Resources Bogoso Prestea Limited (FGRBPL) in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region has stated, it has not released any portion of its concession for community mining project in Bogoso.
According to the company, whilst in principle the Company is not opposed to the Community Mining Policy of the government, some locals going round purporting in the town that they have permission from FGR to engage in community mining on the company’s concession are false and should refrain from such act.
The company also refuted the claims that one of pits in question does not fall in its concession.
Officials of FGR revealed this to a group of journalists and said, mining at the Bogoso South and Bogoso South Bypass pits, which form part of several areas submitted to regulators in line with the Reclamation Security Agreement for completion certificate since 2014 was completed in 2001.
They further disclosed, rehabilitation in line with the Reclamation Security Agreement commenced immediately in 2000-2001 with tree crops establishment on the waste rock dump and water reservoir designed with protective zones and features to ensure safety of community members.
“The tree crop establishment and maintenance of the two-pit areas over the 20 years period cost the company several thousands of United States Dollars to accomplish,” the company noted.
They also disclosed further that, the rehabilitation and closure options agreed with regulators in the Reclamation Security Agreement, was a forest reserve and a clean water reservoir for aquatic life growth and biodiversity establishment.
However, urbanization has resulted in the building of residential structures near and very close to the pits over the past 20 years, though records of engagements carried out by the previous operator of the mine, and those being caried out as a continuity by FGR since it took over the operations of the Bogoso-Prestea mine in 2020, attest to various efforts by the company to stop the encroachment.
As at the year 2020, the remaining rehabilitated grown trees which were 20 years old were unlawfully cleared for anticipated structural construction by some residents of the local community, resulting in exposure of the pits.
What is becoming more worrying in recent times is the frequent emboldened invasion of the area by some residents in Bogoso for a certain local mining activity, without prior approval or permit from any recognized institutions and in the clear face of opposition from Security personnel of FGR.
Management of the company has observed that, apart from the obvious increase in the environmental liability burden of the company, if the activities of the encroachers are not stopped immediately by local authorities, their activities will cause serious threat to public safety.
Especially, to innocent residents living in the area of the pits in question, and the eventual risk of ground subsidence that would affect private properties and the section of the Bogoso – Prestea public road that separates the two pits.
Explaining more on the consequences and risk of the unapproved community mining initiative, the Head of Stakeholder Communications and Community Engagement Mr. Robert Gyamfi, said buildings close to the pits could collapse due to ground-activities of mining.
Also, the culvert on the Bogoso-Prestea road would be affected and flooding of upstream residential buildings with high silt-laden water would be on the increase.
He stated, the exposure of some geological characteristics of the pits to the weather, could make the pit materials reactive and acid generating and their negative impacts on surface and ground water in the area will increase.
The time journalists paid a visit to where the two pits were located, some groups of people were seen busily working in one of the pits with an excavator machine.
Residents of the area told reporters that, though efforts to prevent potential developers of the pits for illegal mining activities, have been intensified by personnel of the security department of FGR, they are also calling on relevant stakeholders to support the company prevent the unacceptable activity.
