Lawyer Martin Kpebu has joined youth and residents of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region to demand the enforcement of a High Court order permitting local mining company Nalamtaaba to continue its operations.
The lawyer joined the residents in a peaceful demonstration to petition President John Dramani Mahama through the Upper East Regional Minister, calling for urgent intervention in the ongoing dispute over the mining concession.
The demonstrators are also demanding the release of local businessman Zongdan Boyak Kolog, popularly known as Polo, who is currently in detention.
They allege that Polo and the local mining operation have been subjected to unfair treatment, while raising concerns about the alleged encroachment on the concession by a large-scale, foreign-owned mining company.
Addressing the demonstrators, Mr. Kpebu said the protest was intended to achieve two key objectives: secure the enforcement of the High Court order allowing Nalamtaaba to resume operations and push for Polo’s release on bail.
According to him, although the High Court has ruled that Nalamtaaba can continue its operations pending the determination of the substantive dispute, the order has yet to be fully enforced.
He argued that the failure to implement the ruling had affected the company’s operations and the livelihoods of young people who depend on the mining activities for their income.
Mr. Kpebu called on President Mahama to ensure that the appropriate authorities, particularly the relevant security agencies, take steps to guarantee the enforcement of the court order.
He further called for the deployment of the necessary security arrangements to protect the concession and allow the police to discharge their duties without interference.
On the question of whether portions of Nalamtaaba’s concession overlap with that of another mining company, Mr Kpebu maintained that the matter remained before the High Court for determination.
He stressed that until the court makes a final determination on the ownership and boundaries of the disputed areas, the existing order permitting Nalamtaaba to operate should be respected.
The lawyer said restoring the company’s operations would enable affected young people to earn a living and support their families.
He also appealed to the authorities to grant Polo bail to enable him to return to his leadership responsibilities at Nalamtaaba while the criminal proceedings against him continue.
Mr. Kpebu cited a Supreme Court decision in the case of Martin Kpebu v. Attorney-General, popularly known as Martin Kpebu No. 2, in support of his argument that all offences are bailable, subject to the discretion of the court.
He expressed optimism that Polo would be granted bail in the near future, insisting that the criminal prosecution could proceed without necessarily keeping him in detention.
“We cannot say here that the prosecution should not continue, but it is our law that once somebody has been arrested and he is not a flight risk, he should be granted bail,” he said.
Mr Kpebu urged the demonstrators to remain peaceful and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the march as they proceeded to present their petition to the authorities.