Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced the immediate revocation of the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Ltd, after uncovering what he described as a “criminal syndicate” operating with impunity in forest reserves.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra on Monday, Mr Buah said the company, which had been granted a legitimate mining lease to operate off-reserve in the Western North Region, was found to be carrying out extensive illegal mining activities within protected forest zones, including the Samreboi enclave and the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
“Akonta Mining does not have a lease to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, and their mining activities in the forest are illegal and criminal,” Mr Buah stated, adding that the government under President John Dramani Mahama “will stop at nothing to bring the company to book.”
An intelligence-led operation carried out on the eve of Good Friday (17 April) led to a major raid on six illegal mining sites connected to the company. The operation, which took place in Compartment 49 of the forest reserve, lasted 12 hours and resulted in the arrest of 51 individuals, including eight Chinese nationals and 43 Ghanaians as well as the seizure of:
- 30 excavators (5 impounded)
- 2 pump-action guns and 1 single-barrel gun
- 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, and 4 motorbikes
- A cache of mining equipment
The suspects are currently in custody in Accra, awaiting prosecution.
Mr Buah revealed that investigations by undercover operatives uncovered a “well-oiled machinery of destruction” involving Akonta Mining subletting access to protected forest reserves for GHS 300,000 per concession. Weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold were reportedly paid to the company by illegal miners operating under their protection.
Named in the investigation is a company representative, Mr Ayisi, who allegedly served as the liaison for these illegal deals. Individuals referred to as “Mr Henry” and “Shark” were said to be overseeing the destruction of farmlands, forests, and water bodies in the area.
The operation also exposed the complicity of some forestry officers and security personnel, accused of accepting bribes in exchange for protection and tip-offs about planned raids.
Mr Buah said all implicated forestry officials will be interdicted pending investigations, and security agencies have been directed to probe their personnel allegedly involved. The Attorney-General has also been briefed and is now leading the investigations.
“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 are coming after you,” the Minister said.
He also addressed the youth engaged in illegal mining, encouraging them to seek state-supported alternatives and warning of harsher enforcement for those who continue in defiance.
“We will not stop until galamsey is completely uprooted. We will not stop until our waters run blue and our forests are turned green. We will name, shame, and prosecute the financiers, the enablers — the real architects of this destruction.”
The Minister concluded by calling on the media and the Ghanaian public to remain vigilant and report illegal mining activities.
