Talensi youth petition Mahama over Nalaamtaaba-Earl International mining dispute

Residents of Talensi District in the Upper East Region of Ghana have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to step in and resolve a long-standing mining dispute between locally owned Nalaamtaaba Enterprise and the Chinese-owned Earl International Gold Ghana Limited. The youth-led protest in Bolgatanga highlighted the dire economic consequences of the impasse, as the dispute has denied hundreds of people their livelihoods.

Legal practitioner and activist Martin Kpebu, along with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, presented the petition to the President. Kpebu urged Mahama to ensure that the police enforce a court order that permits Nalaamtaaba Enterprise to continue its mining operations until the conflict is resolved. The High Court's ruling in the case stated that Nalaamtaaba Enterprise could continue working while the court conducted further investigations.

However, Kpebu alleged that some influential forces had obstructed the enforcement of the court order, despite the Inspector-General of Police and his legal team giving the order their approval. Nalaamtaaba Enterprise directly and indirectly provides employment to over 1,000 people in Talensi, making the suspension of operations a significant economic concern for the district.

The legal practitioner emphasized that persistent unemployment is a national security threat and urged authorities to address the situation to prevent further hardship among the youth. The petitioners also expressed concern over the arrest and continued detention of Nalaamtaaba Enterprise's Chief Executive Officer, Boya Kolukpolo, and several of his associates.