The Minister for Lands and Pure Sources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Engineers & Planners and Azumah Sources to resolve their ongoing dispute over the Black Volta Gold Mine.
In a letter dated Thursday, 10 July, the minister urged each events to seek out an amicable decision to the disagreement, warning that the federal government can be compelled to intervene within the nationwide curiosity in the event that they fail to achieve a mutual settlement.
The letter acknowledged:
In mild of the circumstances, I’ve determined to grant the events a remaining interval of seven (7) days inside which to resolve the matter amicably. Ought to this era elapse and not using a mutually agreed decision, a call shall be taken in one of the best curiosity of the nation.
ALSO READ: Ablekuma North: NPP candidate defies party boycott, vows to contest rerun
He additional suggested:
I strongly urge all events to chorus from addressing this matter by means of the media and as an alternative give attention to constructive dialogue and accountable engagement.
As a part of the hassle to facilitate decision, the minister has directed the Minerals Fee to assist each events in settling their variations to make sure the well timed graduation of the mining mission.
ALSO READ: Bill Gates slips out of top 10 richest people in the world – See latest rankings
Background
The dispute centres on conflicting claims over an alleged settlement between the 2 corporations. Engineers & Planners asserts that it entered right into a reliable association with Azumah Sources to finance and develop the Black Volta Gold Mine, providing greater than $250 million in mission funding.
Nevertheless, Azumah Sources has firmly denied the existence of any such settlement, stating categorically that it has not bought, nor agreed to promote, the Black Volta Gold Challenge to Engineers & Planners.
On the core of the controversy is a major funding discrepancy. Whereas Engineers & Planners claims to have pledged over $250 million in monetary assist, Azumah Sources contends that solely $4 million has been obtained to this point. This shortfall has forged doubt on Engineers & Planners’ capacity to fulfill its monetary obligations and has additional strained relations between the 2 entities.
ALSO READ: Top NPP MP questions party’s decision to boycott Ablekuma North rerun
In response, Engineers & Planners has accused sure administrators of Azumah Sources of intentionally obstructing the deal as a way to exploit rising world gold costs. The Ghanaian firm alleges that Azumah is in search of to renegotiate the phrases of the settlement in mild of beneficial market situations.
