By: Haddy Touray
A founding member of the Association of Chairpersons of Kombo South Coastal Villages Committees, Momodou Sillah also the chairman of Bato Kunku VDC has clarified that the viral photos of environmental destruction in Kombo South circulating on social media were not from GACH Mining’s operations.
Sillah, along with the chairpersons of Sanyang and Tujereng VDCs, appeared on Star TV this week to address issues relating to the Association of Chairpersons of Kombo South Coastal Villages Committees, mining contracts, and related concerns.
The association recently issued a statement rejecting allegations from the Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA) that the chairpersons were receiving salaries and favors from GACH Mining. In its press release, read by the association’s PRO Abdoulie Boto Gaye, the association maintained that none of its members are on GACH’s payroll or receiving bonuses.
Sillah pointed out that Ginkon Mining’s failure to rehabilitate its mines in Bato Kunku has unfairly tarnished GACH’s reputation online, as many of the photos circulating are actually from Ginkon’s sites.
Explaining the association’s process for evaluating potential mining projects, Gaye noted that MSJ Mining had consulted the association about plans to operate in Kombo South. According to Gaye, the Department of Geology directed MSJ to relocate from Denton Bridge and identified Bato Kunku and Kachume as potential sites, with copies of the letter sent to several Alkalolu in the area.
“We asked MSJ to let us review flood risks, as dredging can affect fish breeding grounds from Bato Kunku to Kartong,” Gaye said. “Fish is vital to the local diet.”
He stressed that the association did not reach an agreement with MSJ. “We asked for documents to vet them properly, to set up a monitoring team ensuring compliance,” he said. “Ginkon is an example they failed to rehabilitate their site. Those viral photos are from Ginkon’s mines, not GACH’s.”
Gaye concluded that Ginkon owes royalties to Bato Kunku and noted that letters had been sent to the National Environment Agency, the Geology Department, and the company, but no response has been received.