By Solomon T. Gaye
The alleged failure of the Ministry Mines and Energy’s chief investigator, James Toe, to release permits to scrap dealers is reportedly brewing tension between scrap dealers and people doing scrap-related businesses in Nimba.
Speaking over the weekend, Melvin Mesahn alleged that he paid US$ 200 to Toe for a scrap permit for the smooth running of the business in the county.
According to Mesahn, since the payment of the cash to James Toe, a few months ago, nobody knows his whereabouts in the county.
“We pay the money to legalize our business with the government to be among registered licensed scrap buyers but, investigators Toe who is supposed to protect the interest of the dealers and government, lied to us and diverted our money,” Mesahn pointed out.
“He has put our numbers on the blacklist; every day we go to the Ministry’s sub-office in Sanniquellie, nobody knows his location in the county,” Mesahn lamented.
Nimba is among the 15 counties that boast of having huge number of scrap dealers and buyers including people who are doing scrap-related business in the county.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy which is clothed with the authority to collect fees for the businesses assigned in the county has refused to speak to the press on the matter.
However, Toe who promised to respond in three days failed to speak to the issue at-bar in Sanniquellie on November 25, 2024. But speaking to the Inquirer via mobile phone at the beginning of December 2024 for the second time, he categorically denied allegations leading to the alleged collection of US$ 200 from scrap dealers or buyers in the county.
“Press let me tell you, that young man’s dream is to tarnish my good reputation,” Toe responded.
