The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) has firmly rejected media reports claiming that 33 excavators went missing from police custody following an anti-illegal mining operation in Akomfre, calling the narrative “fundamentally inaccurate.”
In a press statement issued by MDF Corporate Affairs, the agency clarified that its Administrator, Dr. Hanna Bisiw-Kotei, had been misquoted by media outlets in what it described as an attempt to distort the facts surrounding the discovery of an illegal mining site in Akomfre.
“The Minerals Development Fund (MDF) is issuing this statement to correct fundamentally inaccurate media reports suggesting that 33 excavators went missing from police custody and to provide a factual account of the events in Akomfre”
Minerals Development Fund
The MDF stated that the episode in question rather marked a major operational success anchored on community cooperation and transparency. However, it insisted that at no point were 40 excavators handed over to or held by the police.
According to the MDF, the breakthrough came through ongoing community engagement efforts led by its Administrator. On June 5, 2025, local residents in Akomfre confidentially directed MDF officials to a concealed illegal mining location.
The Fund, which is tasked with supporting sustainable development in mining areas, described this gesture as a testament to the trust it has built within communities.
“Upon arrival, the team unearthed a fleet of approximately 40 excavators actively engaged in widespread environmental degradation. Recognizing the scale of the illicit operation, the MDF staff took decisive action, immediately halting the activities to arrest the pervasive destruction”
Minerals Development Fund
However, the MDF admitted that its officers did not have the equipment or manpower to impound and transport the excavators at the time. Therefore, arrangements were made to involve the police the following day to formalize seizure of the machinery.
By the time law enforcement arrived at the remote location, only seven of the excavators remained. The rest, about 33, had been removed overnight by unknown persons, presumably linked to the operators of the illegal site.
The MDF stressed that “the police never had custody of 40 excavators,” countering the suggestion that the missing machines vanished from police protection.
“This incident, while challenging, underscores the importance and success of our direct community engagement model”
Minerals Development Fund
The MDF also emphasized that it was the Fund’s intervention – not a law enforcement or military raid – that led to the exposure of the operation. The episode, it said, affirms its proactive and community-first governance strategy.
MDF officials believe this method continues to prove effective in protecting Ghana’s mineral resources and minimizing the harm caused by illegal mining, often referred to as “galamsey.”
The MDF Administrator has since been in regular contact with the Ghana Police Service (GPS), which is conducting an active investigation into the removal of the missing excavators. While the machines are yet to be recovered, the Fund believes its role was played with diligence and honesty, and it has pledged to assist police with any further leads that emerge.
The agency concluded its statement with a plea for responsible journalism, calling on all media practitioners to “ensure accuracy in their reporting on these critical national issues.”
The Fund warned that misrepresentation of facts not only undermines national efforts to curb illegal mining but could also endanger the community members who bravely assist law enforcement with intelligence.
As the government intensifies its clampdown on illegal mining operations, institutions like the Minerals Development Fund are expected to play a growing role in coordinating community-led interventions.
The Akomfre incident may yet serve as a cautionary tale on the operational limitations state agencies face on the ground, but it also points to a vital path forward – one rooted in public trust and collaboration.
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