Mining
Appointees allegedly involved in galamsey being investigated
I will not protect anyone found culpable – President
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed that security agencies are currently investigating the alleged involvement of government appointees including Metropolitan, Municipal and District chief executive (MMDCEs) in the galamsey activities.
He assured that he will not protect any appointee found to be involved in illegal mining activities (galamsey) in the country.
He said the people found to be involved in illegal mining activities, he said, could face 15 years and above in prison.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking at a meeting with MMDCEs in the Ashanti region in Kumasi to deliberate on the alarming rate of galamsey activities in the region and how to effectively contain the menace.
“As a President, I am committed and determined to contain the fight against galamsey, come what may”, he said.
The effective fight to contain the menace would also help the New Patriotic Party to break the eight, he added.
President Akufo-Addo pointed out that, it had become evident that if stringent measures were not taken immediately to stop the illegal mining, things would escalate.
The President had earlier met members of the National House of Chiefs on the same issue and said the government was committed to fighting illegal mining to ensure that rivers and water bodies became clear and clean again in the country.
He reiterated his commitment to working hand-in-hand with Chiefs, traditional rulers and all stakeholders in the fight against Galamsey.
According to him, “it is obvious that, if we are to win the fight, you and I have to take the lead to collaborate closely to do so. That is why I am here today.”
The President noted that 80% of the lands Ghana continue to be under the custody of Chiefs, whereas the remainder of 20% is held in trust by the President.
What this means, he said is that, ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is the joint responsibility of Chiefs and the President, although, by statute, the minerals in the soil belong to the President in trust for the people.
“Historically, we discharged that responsibility well. Even though, for centuries, we have been a mining nation, mining did not pose a threat to the health of our environment and water bodies.
“The rules that you put in place for mining ensured that the sanctity of our lands remained intact, and our water bodies remained unpolluted.
“Tragically, in the modern era, that is no longer the case. And that is why I have come to you today to talk about how, together, we can repair this dramatic situation,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo indicated that, since he took office, on January 7, 2017, he has made it a central feature of his presidency to lead in the efforts to rid the country of the menace of Galamsey, with a firm commitment made in his inaugural speech on the matter.
“It has not been easy, it has not been popular, and we have not got the immediate results that I was looking for.
“Indeed, in the last elections of 2020, my stance on the issue cost my party and I significant losses in the mining communities.
“It turned out that my statement that I was putting my presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey was neither bombast nor recklessness. It was the simple truth,” he said.
The President added that, “We have tried many initiatives, including that of the Community Mining Scheme, and the establishment of a new legal regime for dealing with the perpetrators of this phenomenon, which has imposed severe sanctions on those, Ghanaians and foreigners, convicted of illegal mining. Still, we have not won the fight.”
In seeking further assistance from the National House of Chiefs in addressing the galamsey phenomenon, he noted that taking partisan political interests out of the fight against galamsey is one way forward.
“It can only succeed if it is a truly national battle, which no one seeks to exploit for political gain, as we saw in the last election.
“The progress of our country depends on all of us, all citizens of Ghana, all Fellow Ghanaians, pulling together to defeat this existential threat to our future,” he added.
Reiterating the stance of government, President Akufo-Addo noted that “we are not against mining, but we cannot accept mining in a manner that risks destroying our country. Our nation has always been a mining nation. Indeed, in the 15th century, when the first Europeans, the Portuguese, came to our shores, they called the first European-influenced town, Elmina, meaning ‘the mine’ in Portuguese, because, from their ships as they approached our shores, that is the activity they saw our people engaged in. it is not surprising that, in colonial times, we were called the Gold Coast.”
He, thus, asked all Ghanaians to join hands with him in the fight against illegal mining, in order to bring an end to the devastation of the Ghanaian landscape, and the pollution of our water bodies.
“We have to win that fight to keep our environment clean, and protect our heritage for our descendants, as you did in the past,” he added.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, President of the National House of Chiefs, said the House was solidly behind the President in his relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining.
He said the effects of illegal mining on the environment threatened the survival of water bodies, farmlands and the cocoa industry, which was the mainstay of the economy.
“In view of this development, Nananom are solidly behind your administration to apply appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in illegal mining irrespective of their status,” he said.
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Police to investigate allegations by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng regarding the involvement of some government officials in illegal mining activities.
Checks by The Finder with the Police confirmed that the directive was issued last week.
Special Investigation Unit
Following the directive, the checks revealed that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Headquarters has commenced investigation into the matter.
The former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation also alleged that even some staff at Jubilee House and New Patriotic Party (NPP) bigwigs are involved in illegal mining.
Ousted by persons in galamsey?
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in a recent interview with the state broadcaster GBC alleged that he was ousted from his position to pave the way for NPP bigwigs and government officials to continue their galamsey activities.
“Let me tell you that I did not take one excavator for anything, they know the truth. Now things are coming up, we know those who are behind it and the party people who are there, people in government including Jubilee House who are doing galamsey and so on, even now.
“There was an orchestrated scheme, even within the party and government to get me out. Why is it that when I left now everyone is in the forest?”
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s son accused of mining in forest reserves
Jojo Frimpong-Boateng, the biological son of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was accused of having links with a company called Symphony Limited allegedly involved in mining in Ghana’s forest reserves.
Audio recording
While in office in 2020, an audio recording surfaced online with the voice of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng interacting with some persons believed to be NPP members and in the said recording, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was heard allegedly agreeing to granting them the green light to engage in galamsey.
Scandals of Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining
The Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) headed by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was hit by a number of scandals including corruption allegations levelled against some of its leaders as well as claims of 500 excavators seized from illegal small scale miners missing.
“Though the excavators were seized and taken to the district assemblies, the heavy-duty machines disappeared later from the premises of the assemblies,” he said.
CID arrest 6 in connection with missing excavators
The CID of the Ghana Police Service on Monday 3rd February, 2020, arrested six persons in connection with the missing excavators and other seized equipment from illegal miners in the country.
Among them is the suspended New Patriotic Party Central Regional Vice Chairman, Horace Ekow Ewusi.
The others include Frederick Ewusi, Joel Asamoah, Adam Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin.
157 excavators
However, the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Kweku Asomah Cheremeh, said his outfit had 157 excavators in its possession.
There were 122 excavators in Adentan, 26 in Obuasi and nine in Tarkwa.
Following the scandals Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dissolved the IMCIM in January 2021 and assigned Lands and Natural Resources Ministry the lead role in the galamsey fight.
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The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mines, George Mireku Duker has noted that the return of the Ankobra River and other water bodies to their pure status is a reflection of the strides made by government’s fight against illegal mining.
According to him, the progress made in the turbidity level of the waterbodies is indicative of the fact that the anti-galamsey fight is yielding results.
Speaking after the tour of the Ankobra River which is fast regaining its authentic and clean status on Thursday, 16th February 2023 , Mireku Duker commended the various stakeholders for their respective roles in the fight against illegal mining.
While commending the various agencies and Ghanaians for their efforts, Mireku Duker maintained that government will not take its foot off pedal and will press on with the measures that have resulted in the gains made so far.
He noted that the training of river wardens to compliment the Operation Halt II taskforce is another laudable initiative by government that has contributed significantly to the liberation of water bodies from galamsey operations.
He urged all individuals especially Chiefs, MMDCEs and the general public to join forces with government in its bid to protect the water bodies.
He reiterated government’s aversion on the ban of small-scale mining and expressed that government through the Community Mining Scheme and other innovations will transform the small-scale mining sector.
“We should take full responsibility of protecting Ghana’s river bodies. We have roles to play including MMDCEs and we must all commit to protecting our water bodies.
“There are suggestions for government to close down small-scale mining activities but we are aware of the number of job opportunities created in the small-scale mining sector.
The DCE for Ellembelle District, Kwasi Bonzo said the people of Ellembelle will not sit down aloof and watch others destroy their livelihoods.
Dorcas Amoah, DCE for Nzema East commended the government for the Community Mining scheme in the area, revealing that many lives have been impacted positively by the innovative mining scheme
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The Forestry Commission has demobilized equipment being used for illegal mining in the Atewa Forest in the Eastern Region.
The demobilization was carried out at a mining site outside the Forest Reserve which has affected 0.6 hectares of the reserve.
A statement issued by the Commission said no one was found at the site where the illegal mining was taking place.
The Commission said it is working with Operation Halt II to ensure that no illegal mining activity takes place in the Forest Reserve.
It assured that the necessary steps are taken to reclaim portions of the Forest Reserve affected by the illegal activity.
The Commission said it has reported the incident to the Kyebi District Police Station and will work with them and other agencies to smoke out the perpetrators and deal with them.
It assured the public of continuous commitment to work with all stakeholders to protect all Forest Reserves in the country
It will be recalled that eleven persons who were involved in illegal mining in the Atewa Forest were given prison sentences of between five and 15 years.
Koforidua Circuit Court B sentenced them after they were found guilty of engaging in the dig and wash model of illegal mining in the Atewa Forest Reserve, contrary to the
country’s mining laws which bar mining in forest reserves.
The 11 convicts are among 55 persons who were arrested by officials of the Forestry Commission in 16 different operations in the Atewa Forest between January and April 2022.
A document detailing the progress report on the cases revealed that the 44 people were on remand at the time.
Three of the convicts – Alhassan Lariba, Foster Boakye and Kwaku Ampofo, who were arrested at the Pameng portion of the Atewa Forest, were sentenced to 3,000 penalty units, amounting to GH¢36,000 in addition to five years’ imprisonment.
In another case, George Asare and Godwin Ahadzi, who were arrested at the Asiakwa portion of the Atewa Forest, were fined 10,000 penalty units, amounting to GH¢120,000 or they would spend 15 years in prison.
Again, Isaac Kofi and Yaw Boadi, who were arrested in the Obourho portion of the forest, were fined 10,000 penalty units of GH¢120,000 in addition to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Three other illegal miners – Bismark Dompreh, Kwasi Samuel and Kwadwo Baah – were handed 15 years sentence and a fine of GH¢1,000 each.
The illegal miners were arrested at various locations in the Atewa Forest, including Sagyimase, Pameng, Asiakwa, Ahwenease, Juaso, Obourho, Potroase and Apenaman,
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