Wontumi’s Akonta Mining is not involved in galamsey – Miracles Aboagye

The Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party 2024 Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has refuted assertions that Akonta Mining Limited, which belongs to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, is involved in illegal mining (galamsey).

Miracles Aboagye indicated that Akonta Mining is a licensed small-scale mining company that got its license in 2013 from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, led by President John Dramani Mahama.

He added that there is no evidence that Wontumi’s mining company is involved in illegal mining as asserted by some in the public.

“Any time somebody is involved in a crime, I'll find out whether the person has actually committed the crime or not. Like I'm giving you the video. When I heard that the NDC people were in the pit encouraging galamsey, I didn't believe it. I didn't just come out to speak. I waited for the evidence.

“Akonta Mining is a licensed small-scale mining company. Since when did small-scale mining become illegal? So, the fact that somebody owns a mining concession doesn't make it illegal. The galamsey (illegal mining) we are talking about are individuals and businesses who are mining in our river bodies and our forest reserves without the appropriate licenses,” he said in an interview on JoyNews on September 19, 2024.

He explained, “What the license does is that once you have it, you are regulated to mine in a safe and appropriate way that does not affect our environment. And so, unless you have contrary evidence to prove that Akonta Mining is involved in galamsey. Because Akonta Mining, they didn't get their license under the NPP, they got the license in 2013 under the NDC government and they are doing their small-scale mining.”

He added that any person involved in illegal mining, no matter their political affiliation, must be dealt with.

“So, if you find anybody involved in illegal mining, in spite of the political colours, and the person is involved in illegal mining, the law should deal with the person,” he added.

It can be recalled that in October 2022, Akonta Mining was accused of operating in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve after they had, a month prior, clashed with some locals in the town of Samreboi in the Western North Region.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources ordered a halt to their operations in the forest but clarified that they had a valid mining license in areas outside of the natural habitat.

There was also a report that security operatives had raided one of the operational sites of the company in the forest reserve, burning machines and structures.

President Akufo-Addo, while responding to calls for Wontumi's arrest (over Akonta Mining operations), as demanded by Ken Ashigbey, who happens to be Chairman of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, said that the company was not involved in any illegality.

“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.

“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,” he stated. 

BAI/AE

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