OccupyGhana – Galamsey Reminder (No 4) – Take Action On Akonta Mining Issue

Mr President:

One of Ghana’s weaknesses in the fight to control and regulate illegal mining has been the inability, unwillingness or unpreparedness of the Government to apply the law. This weakness is what has led, in substantial part, to illegal mining becoming the hydra-headed headache that it is today.

Currently, illegal mining is not limited to mining without a licence or lease. Our work has shown that some companies with just reconnaissance or prospecting licences engage in mining, which is illegal. Persons holding mining leases or small-scale mining licences over defined concession areas have extended mining operations to areas not covered by the documents, which is probably the most invidious of all illegal mining. Such persons tend to use the documents to deceive others and worse, secure the protection of our security agencies. Both the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (‘Ministry’) and its Minerals Commission (‘Commission’) look on helplessly.

We were therefore struck by the 30 September 2022 and 3 October 2022 press releases by the Ministry and the Commission respectively, which emphatically stated that a company called Akonta Mining Ltd, which has a mining lease over a specific concession, had illegally entered the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve and conducted mining operations there. Videos published by the press suggest that our security agencies have been protecting these operations.

The Ministry and Commission must have sufficient evidence to back these press statements. That evidence is what the police and Attorney-General require to launch criminal investigations into the matter, and when satisfied, prosecute that company and its directors and officers for the requisite offences under the Minerals and Mining Act. Therefore, on 30 September 2022, we wrote to the Minister (ref: OG/2022/036) to request that he sends the evidence then in his custody to the police and Attorney-General. The Minister has neither acknowledged receipt nor, to our information, acted.  On 17 October 2022, we wrote to the Information Officer of the Ministry (ref: OG/2022/043), copied to the Minister, to demand information on whether the Minister has complied with our demands. Of course, we have not received even the courtesy of an acknowledgement of receipt.

Sir, it is such acts and omissions by Government appointees that convince illegal miners that the Government cannot stop their operations. Worse, these also convince several Ghanaians that all we have from the Government is mere talk that will not be backed by any action. The worst is that they also convince us that if the people behind the illegal mining are close to the Government, then we should not expect any action on the matter – not even a formal investigation.

That must change, and the issue concerning Akonta Mining Ltd, just like the Aisha Huang matter, is a key test of your resolve to end illegal mining. If that company is not engaged in illegal mining, the police investigations will absolve them. If, however, it is engaged in illegal mining, then the police will take the requisite steps. We are therefore appealing to you to give your Minister and the Minerals Commission a simple instruction: they should send all the information in their custody to the police and the Attorney-General forthwith.

We want to see the commitment behind your declared intention to end the menace posed by Galamsey, manifested in this matter too. Mr President, we once again urge you to lead the charge, as decisive action is required to save the nation from the dangers of Galamsey. And, once again, we remind you of your 10 July 2017 words, when you staked your presidency on ending Galamsey, that ‘it will be a betrayal of the trust reposed on me if I fail to end this.’

Yours in the Service of God and Ghana,

OccupyGhana

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