By: Problyn J. Alpha
Illicit artisanal mining by some unscrupulous miners in Kono District is on the increase in wongor investment and mining corporation concession area in Nimikoro Chiefdom Kono District.
This is according to the Kono District Communication Officer of environment protection Agency (EPA) Willie Sylvanus Collier when explaining to this medium the stands of the Agency with regard the allegations that the operations of the aforementioned mining company is responsible for the pollution of the water sources in all the operational areas of the mining company in question in Nimikoro Chiefdom Kono District.
He said all the mining companies in the district are working under the close and straight supervision of the agency noting that the pollution of the water sources in Nimikoro Chiefdom Kono District is purely done by the illicit operations of some artisanal mariners in Nimikoro Chiefdom Kono District.
Willie Sylvanus Collier further commended the mining companies in the district for respecting what he called the environment impact assessment (EIA) which he described as the agency’s blue print for responsible mining.
He strictly warned against illicit mining as it has the potential of dwindling government’s efforts in generating income in the mining sector adding that anyone found in the said act will face the full penalty of the law.
Asked to know the take of the management of the above mentioned company on the statement of the EPA Kono District Communication Officer that illicit artisanal mining by some unscrupulous miners is on the increase in wongor investment and mining corporation concession.
The community liaison officer wongor investment and mining corporation operation in Nimikoro Chiefdom Kono District Emmanuel Frederick Swaray foremost confirmed the statement noting that illicit mining is as old as mining.
According to him the said act is one of the company`s and government’s challenges in the mining sector in the district and the country as a whole.
He pointed out that it could be recalled that during the days of SLTS the present Motema Police Station or division was purposely established to addressing illicit mining in the district. According to him as a way of addressing the said menace it is impossible for the company to erect perimeter fence around the company’s concession and as a result some miners are taking advantage of the prevailing situation to embark on the said menace.
Mr Swaray maintained that the illicit mining in their concession is difficult to address because half of the population in their operational areas highly depend on illicit mining for their livelihood and as a result the coming of company in the chiefdom posed so many challenges as they community people now live with no alternative of getting their livelihoods.
He said the company being magnanimous has been overlooking the illicit mining carried out in the company’s concession hence it doesn’t negatively affect their operations.
However, he maintained that since last year illicit mining has seriously affected the operations of the company of which the National Mineral Agency (NMA) was approached with the concern and that the company was never happy for the use of machines.
The community Liaison officer wongor investment and Mining Corporation noted that an illicit mining place previously called America is now referred to as Ukraine which houses a good number of illicit miners thereby disturbing the smooth operations of company adding that such act has been reported to both the Nimikoro chiefdom authorities and National Mineral Agency now waiting for their feedbacks.
He recalled how the said act in July attracted the attention of president Bio of which he later sent his minister of Internal Affairs Panda Noah to investigate the said matter because of the political under tone it had as both the SLPP and APC chairmen were claiming supremacy over illicit mining.
Thus, the miners saying they will vote against any politician that will ask them out of Ukraine.
Emmanuel Frederick Swaray intimated this medium that the minister out of his investigation and visit was blunt enough to tell the Nimikoro chiefdom authority that the areas were the reported illicit mining is carried out belong to the company and therefore the illicit miners must stop hence forth.
He said the minister further remarked that the chiefdom authority should have provided alternative areas for their community people in order to fend their livelihood instead of disturbing the operations of the company he warned.
Whilst disclosing plans by the company to totally move off illicit miners operating in the company’s concession.
Mr Swaray noted that illicit mining these days is difficult to address because it is lucrative as miners now hire machines to embark on it noting that the involvement of bigger machines is no longer referred to as small scale or Artisanal mining.
“The said illicit mining has one time stopped the operations of our company for at least two days which attracted both the attentions of NMA and the chiefdom authority in Nimikoro this was done when the said illicit miners diverted the course of the water for mining and bathing purposes”, Emmanuel Frederick Swaray opined.
He concluded by saying that political interference through some chiefdom authorities thereby using illicit mining as a solace for their supporters and sympathizers is responsible for the menace to be on the increase in Nimikoro chiefdom Kono District.
Meanwhile, efforts to get the side of the said illicit artisanal miners on the issue proved futile as all of them were afraid to talk to the press hence it has to do with illegal mining.