KONOBO DISTRICT, Grand Gedeh County – The United Miners Affiliation of Konobo District has formally petitioned the Ministry of Mines and Power, urging Minister R. Matenckay Tingban to forestall the return of former mining agent James Tailey Jallah, citing alleged abuse of authority, poor efficiency, and threats in opposition to native miners.
In a letter dated December 19 and addressed to the minister, the affiliation stated it was knowledgeable by Jallah himself that he was being reassigned to Konobo District, the place he beforehand served as mining agent for 9 years. The group warned that his return would reignite tensions and erode confidence within the district’s mining administration.
“The miners of the Konobo Mining District have been knowledgeable by the previous mining agent James Tailey Jallah that he’s returning as agent,” the letter states. The affiliation appealed to Minister Tingban to reassign Jallah elsewhere, arguing that his prolonged tenure introduced “no enchancment” to the native mining sector.
The miners additional alleged that Jallah has issued threats in opposition to people who welcomed his elimination, warning that he would “ill-treat” miners upon his return. Additionally they accused him of discouraging miners from correctly processing licenses and as a substitute exploiting these unfamiliar with mining legal guidelines.
Based on the affiliation, Jallah allegedly promoted illicit mining actions for private achieve relatively than making certain the sector contributed to authorities income. The group claimed he collected license charges with out processing the required documentation and charged Class C miners clearance charges of as much as US$250—quantities they stated exceed legally mandated prices.
“He encourages miners to pay their license cash to him with out processing their licenses,” the letter reads.
The affiliation urged the ministry to conduct a complete audit of all licenses issued throughout Jallah’s nine-year tenure in Konobo District, arguing that such a evaluate would expose systemic irregularities. The miners warned that any try and return him to the district can be met with “critical resistance.”
“We’ll work with any agent besides agent Jallah,” the group stated, calling on the ministry to behave swiftly to protect peace and accountability in Konobo’s mining operations.
Contacted for remark early Friday, December 26, Jallah denied the allegations, questioning each their credibility and timing. Talking by cell phone, he stated he had labored with the affiliation for 9 years with none formal complaints and questioned why the issues have been solely now being raised.
“As we converse, I’m on task as a mining agent, so I’m not even conscious of any plan by my bosses to reassign me wherever else from the place I’m,” Jallah stated, dismissing claims that he was being transferred again to Konobo. He added that whereas administration choices are generally taken with out prior discover to discipline officers, no such dialogue had been communicated to him.
“I do not know about all of what they’re speaking about. These claims are unfaithful and shouldn’t be taken severely,” Jallah stated, including that he would offer additional clarification at a later time.
