The Media Coalition Against Galamsey (MCAG) has expressed frustration at the apparent lack of action in the prosecution of the directors of Akonta Mining Limited.

According to the Coalition, its team met with senior officials of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) on Thursday, June 8, 2023, to discuss the progress of the investigation into Akonta Mining Limited’s mining activities in the Tano Nmira Forest Reserves.

Contained in a statement, MCAG revealed that following this, it was informed that investigations were ongoing. Nonetheless, the group expressed disappointment that the directors of Akonta Mining Limited had not yet been prosecuted, despite the clear evidence of their alleged wrongdoing.

MCAG thus called on the CID to expedite the prosecution of the directors of the company to ensure that they are brought to justice.

“It was made known during the meeting that investigations were ongoing into the activities of Akonta Mining Limited. The delegation from the MCAG was appreciative of the work being carried out by the CID. We, however, expressed our frustration at the seeming lack of action in the prosecution of the director(s) of Akonta Mining Ltd, in the face of clear evidence (including what we added to our petition and statement to the Police) of they having breached the Minerals & Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and prayed that the needed urgency be applied for the speedy prosecution of the director(s) of Akonta Mining Ltd since there was ample evidence available for their prosecution.”
Media Coalition Against Galamsey

Ghanaians urged to join in fight against galamsey

Furthermore, MCAG called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join in the fight against illegal mining. It explained that MCAG remains resolute in its conviction that there is and can be no conceivable justification for illegal mining to continue in Ghana.

“The Media Coalition Against Galamsey continues to call on all well-meaning Ghanaians, Civil Society Organizations to join hands with the media to help mount continued pressure on our leaders, Political, Technocrats, Traditional and Business to help save Ghana’s water bodies and preserve our environment for current and future generations. Losing this war is definitely not an option. Irresponsible and unsustainable mining is an existential threat and should not be countenanced.”
Media Coalition Against Galamsey

It will be recalled that MCAG sent two petitions to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare in January 2023, to carry out swift investigations into the alleged illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining owned by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.

Akonta Mining Limited and a former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, have been cited for investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in suspected corruption and corruption-related offences connected to illegal mining (galamsey).

Also being investigated by the OSP are some officials of the Lands Commission, Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, some mining entities, individuals and political party officials. However, their names were not disclosed immediately.

A statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, stated that Mr Bissue was already being investigated on allegations that he used his office for private gain. It explained that the investigation includes the active and ongoing enquiry into allegations of use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as Secretary to the IMCIM, arising from an investigative documentary titled ‘Galamsey Fraud Part I’ published by Tiger Eye P.I.

In a documentary produced by the private investigator, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and his Tiger Eye team, Mr Bissue was seen allegedly taking money to help an unlicensed company to circumvent laid down processes to be given clearance for its mining operations.

The documentary alleged that the secretary was involved in alleged shady deals to facilitate processes for ORR Resource Enterprise.

The undercover investigator allegedly captured people tasked with fighting the galamsey menace receiving various sums of money, ostensibly to facilitate the acquisition of mining licence