Summer Tide Company, Akyem Abuakwa Smoke Peace Pipe

Management of Summer Tide Company Limited has stated that it has settled impasse with the chiefs and elders of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council in the Eastern Region in regard to the misunderstanding which has arose between the two factions in engaging to sand winning activities in Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.

Addressing a crowded press conference in Accra on Monday February 13, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Summertide Company Limited, Mr Samuel Atsu Forson noted that his outfit withdrawn the case from the court.

"After deeply reflecting over the matter we have with Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, we have wholeheartedly regret making such move, and we hereby wish to unreservedly render an unqualified apology to the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council and, indeed, all citizens of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area," he told journalists.

He pointed out that the company has decided to step down saying that the company has taken the step to render an unqualified apology to the Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.

He noted that the company has also written a petition to Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin and plead for forgiveness and indicated the Okyenhene had given the greenlight for the company to commercial operations on its concession.

"Our decision to smoke piece pipe with the chiefs and elders of Akyem Abuakwa has informed the decision of the management of the company to engage the media today to educate and inform the general public that the company has settled it case with the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council. We expect that the peace to prevail now and forever," he noted.

Touching on the allegations of legality of the company, Mr Forson denied widespread media reports that company has engaged in illegal sand winning activities in Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.

He stated categorically that its Commercial sand winning activities in the are was in confined of the Minerals and Mining laws and regulations.

According to Mr. Forson, the company has valid or legal working environmental permits and licences from state mining regulatory institutions including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Minerals Commission of Ghana to carry legal sand winning in the area.

Consequently, Mr. Forson called on the general public to disregard the allegations levelled against the company, saying that they are law-abiding citizens who generally respect the laws in the country and would be the last persons to engage in bad or illegal activities which would be contrary to the laws and regulations of this country.

To buttress his case, Mr.  Forson showed various copies of the legal statutory documents and environmental operating permits and licences from the Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Commission, National Insurance Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to prove his case that indeed the company’s operations were legal and licensed by appropriate state mining regulatory authorities.

According to him, they have secured a legal and genuine lease agreement with the custodian owners of the lands to win sand in the area.