The Three Sins Lands Ministry Imputes to Akonta Mining

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources led by the sector Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah held a press conference on Monday to expose one of the most egregious cases of illegal mining in the country.

The presser spotlighted Akonta Mining Limited, a company owned by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi for a series of crimes.

First, it uncovered lease exploitation by the company.

The Minister said the company was granted a government lease to mine off-reserve outside the Samreboi forest reserve.

However, investigations found that it had “flagrantly abused” this lease.

Without a lease to mine in the forest reserve, the company had entered the forest reserve in the Samreboi enclave of the Western North Region.

Illegally Selling Access
That does not appear to be the only alleged sin of the company.

According to Emmanuel Buah, it had also become a criminal syndicate selling access to the Aboi Forest Reserve to illegal miners for a staggering GHC 300,000 per concession.

“Worse, these illegal miners operate under Akonta’s protection, devastating the River Tano and surrounding forests with impunity. They have encroached compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimri forest reserve.”

“We gathered a team of investigators to go undercover to make enquiries about the details of this operation. Our undercover team uncovered a well-oiled machinery of destruction: One Mr Ayisi (a representative of Akonta Mining) is the liaison on these dealings- he serves as the gatekeeper, negotiating fees and granting illegal access.

“The concessions are then subleased to individuals like one ‘Mr Henry’ and another individual identified as ‘Shark’ who are to oversee the devastation of the Aboi Forest Reserve and the Tano River.”

According to the Minister, as part of the agreement between Akonta Mining and the illegal miners, weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold are to be paid to Akonta.

He alleges that a part of the GHC 300,000 fee goes to Akonta Mining, a portion to Mr. Henry, Shark, and their cohorts, and another portion goes to syndicates of the forestry and security officials.

“These officers take a cut as a service charge in exchange for protection and tip-offs in the event of an impending raid.”

Invasion of Farmland
Citing its investigation, the Minister said residents accuse the Company of forcefully invading farmlands and destroying them for gold.

“Some interviews conducted with a few residents indicate that the modus operandi of Akonta Mining is to use force to enter and destroy even the farmlands and produce of poor farmers in the area.”

Lease Revocation
The Minister further announced an order to revoke the mining lease of the company.

“In light of the overwhelming evidence, I have authorized the Minerals Commission to take steps to revoke the lease of Akonta Mining Co. Ltd with immediate effect.”

Commitment
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to root out galamsey.

“And that, the Mahama government will stop at nothing to bring the company to book. This is a warning to all large-scale mining concession holders hiding behind legal leases to fund the destruction of our forests and river bodies. We know some of your schemes – We are coming after you!”

Interdiction
He also announced plans to interdict all officials of the Forestry Commission who were fingered in the investigation.

“I have directed that forestry officials connected to these illegalities be immediately interdicted pending further investigations and prosecution.”

“The security agencies have been notified to investigate security officers who have had dealings with Akonta Mining in this particular Forest Reserve.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini