You Can Tell 1000 Lies But It Doesn’t Make It The Truth- Chairman Wontumi Responds To Martin Kpebu

Chairman Wontumi has issued a strong warning to lawyer Martin Kpebu to stop defaming him by repeating lies that sought to portray him as someone involved in illegal mining popularly referred to as galamsey.

The Chief Executive Officer for Akonta Mining Ltd in an interview with Wontumionline.com stated emphatically that his company is not involved in illegal mining neither would he allow Martin Kpebu to throw dust into the eyes of the public over forest destructions he has not caused.

“You can tell 1000 lies but that doesn’t make it the truth”, Chairman Wontumi shared as he told Martin Kpebu to uphold integrity and be truthful.

The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) of which Martin Kpebu is a member is pushing government to arrest and prosecute directors of Akonta Mining Ltd. According to him, Akonta Mining Ltd is responsible for the destruction of the Tano Nmiri Forest Reserve.

But Chairman Wontumi has set the record straight by responding that his company has never mined in the area before. “We are not mining — and have never mined — in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve”, he said.

Management of Akonta Mining Ltd have also issued a statement indicating that it is a lawfully registered large-scale mining company, operating under valid leases and permits granted by the Minerals Commission.

According to the company, their commitment to environmental responsibility is well documented.

“In a letter dated 29th April 2021, addressed to the Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Akonta Mining formally expressed our gratitude for the removal of illegal miners from our concession and outlined our intent to embark on a six-month backfilling and reclamation exercise to close the dangerous pits left behind by illegal miners — even before commencing full-scale operations”, a portion of their statement read.

They rebuffed allegation of destroying the forest by noting that “we are not responsible for the activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. That responsibility lies solely with the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. It is deeply concerning that state institutions are shifting blame onto a private company that has never been granted access to the said forest area.”