Ashigbey, Kpebu, others petition CID to investigate Akonta Mining Limited over illegal mining activities
In their petition, they say the actions of Akonta Mining Limited are contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment Act) Act 2019, (Act 995).
Four persons have petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate and prosecute Akonta Mining Limited and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi over illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The four are the Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey; private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu; the co-chairman of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Edem Senanu, and a fellow of the Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Kwame Asiedu.
In their petition, they say the actions of Akonta Mining Limited are contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment Act) Act 2019, (Act 995).
“A review of the enclosed documentary (Annexure 1) by Multimedia (JOY FM) and Erastus Asare Donkor, shows that in the months of August and September 2022, the above-mentioned company and Chairman Wontumi undertook illegal mining/mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. Indeed the same persons conducted prospecting in the same Forest without the requisite licences/permits.
Akonta Mining went into the Forest with excavators, pumping machines, power generators, cars, and other equipment. Then they cleared some parts of the forest of the trees and other vegetation. They subsequently excavated the soil and undertook other mining operations as shown in the videos,” the petition said.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in a statement on September 30, 2022, instructed the Forestry Commission to halt the operations of Akonta Mining Limited in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
According to the Ministry, even though Akonta Mining Limited has a lease to undertake mining activity in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, “the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve”.