The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has stated, rather emphatically, that Akonta Mining Limited is not involved in illegal mining.
He was responding to calls for action to be taken against the firm at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Koforidua on Wednesday, January 4.
“Let me respond briefly to the chairperson on the issue of illegal mining. I want to assure him and all of you that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak.”
Akonta Mining Limited, a mining firm said to belong to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, well known as Chairman Wontumi, is alleged to be involved in illegal mining at a prohibited forest reserve.
The President indicated that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has ensured that all forests reserves across the country are rid of illegal mining.
“Further, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has through the agency of the Forestry Commission, with the assistance of the military, made the effort to cordon off all 294 sites of forest reserves in the country and rid them of illegal mining as we speak.”
His comments come days after the Office of the Special Prosecutor announced that Akonta Mining is still being investigated for engaging in illegal mining in a forest reserve.
“The Office has commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of illegal small-scale mining. The investigation targets some officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission. It also targets the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), especially in respect of the seizure and management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets.
“The investigation further targets the activities of Akonta Mining Limited and other companies; nationals of foreign countries allegedly involved in illegal mining; and allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences against some Municipal and District Chief Executives,” OSP stated in its latest half-yearly report issued December 31, 2022, and covering the OSP’s activities from August 2022 to December 2022.
Also, the Lands Ministry in September last year directed Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest.
“The company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve”.
A statement by the sector minister therefore directed the Forestry Commission to, “forthwith, ensure that the company does not carry out any operation in the Forest and to take the necessary action against any person found culpable in this matter”.