President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an immediate investigation into an alleged taxation of illegal miners in the Amansie Central Assembly.
According to the Government’s Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon Ahmed Ibrahim, will conduct the investigations.
He assured the public of swift action against anyone found culpable.
“The Minister earlier today received a petition from Joy News on the matter and pledged to look into it with dispatch,” Felix added.
A documentary by JoyNews alleges that miners pay GH₵6,000 annually to operate banned changfang machines with the tacit approval of local authorities.
The Assembly has, however, denied taxing illegal miners, saying the collection of revenue from operators of earth-moving equipment is in accordance with a local governance framework.
It indicated that the inherited revenue collection can be traced to 2008 during the administration of President John Agyekum Kufour.
“The current administration did not introduce this system. It inherited an already existing administrative arrangement. For clarity, this revenue collection is not an informal or arbitrary practice. It is based on an Assembly by law that was duly passed as far back as 2008 and has been operational ever since.”
The Assembly also denied claims that the funds are privately kept or diverted as false and misleading.
It stated that all monies collected are paid directly into the Assembly’s official account at Odotobri Rural Bank.
This, it said, can be backed with verifiable deposit slips and official receipts, all of which are available for verification at the Assembly.
It furthered that the accrued revenues are used to address critical operational needs, including repairing dysfunctional official vehicles and purchasing a pickup vehicle.
Story by Hajara Fuseini
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Source:
opemsuo.com
