In a fiery press briefing on Monday, April 21, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced a major breakthrough in the government’s ongoing fight against illegal mining (galamsey), with the spotlight turned on Akonta Mining Company Ltd.
Speaking to the press in Accra, the Minister revealed damning findings from an undercover investigation that exposed Akonta Mining as the mastermind behind large-scale illegal mining activities in protected forest reserves, despite having no legal permit to operate there.
“Akonta Mining does not have a lease to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest reserve, and their activities there are illegal and criminal,” Hon. Buah declared.
The investigation uncovered a well-organized criminal network operating under the company’s name, selling access to the Aboi Forest Reserve at GHC 300,000 per concession to illegal miners. Under this arrangement, individuals such as “Mr. Henry” and “Shark” supervised the operations, while a representative of Akonta, Mr. Ayisi, served as the chief liaison. In return, the miners reportedly paid weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold to the company.
Perhaps most alarming was the revelation that certain forestry officials and security personnel were actively aiding the illegal operations, receiving cuts of the proceeds in exchange for protection and advance warnings of raids.
Acting on this intelligence, a joint police and Forestry Commission task force raided six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining on the eve of Good Friday, April 17. The 12-hour operation resulted in 51 arrests, including 8 Chinese nationals, the seizure of 30 excavators (5 of which were impounded), three firearms, several vehicles, and a cache of mining equipment.
In response to these findings, the Minister announced the immediate revocation of Akonta Mining’s lease and ordered the interdiction of implicated forestry officials. The Attorney-General has also taken over the case for further investigation and prosecution.
Further, he added, “This is a warning to all concession holders hiding behind legal leases to destroy our forests and rivers—we are coming after you!”
He concluded with a powerful message:
“We will not stop until galamsey is completely uprooted. We will not stop until our waters run blue, our forests are turned green, and the soul of our country is healed. Every financier, every enabler will face the full rigors of the law. We will name, shame, and prosecute them publicly.
