
The Mess Of Illegal Mining-President Exonerate ‘Akonta’ Mining Ltd
- Environmental News
- January 8, 2023
- No Comment
- 541
Illegal mining popularly refered to as ‘Galamsey’ in Ghana has for the past years been a major driving force of socio-environmental destruction and natural resources depletion in Ghana, most especially in recent years the scale of destruction in the water bodies is alarming.
It is the biggest challenge in Ghana as the government has failed to provide a lasting solution despite attempts to eradicate the phenomenon through the implementation of strategies like the Inter-Ministerial Task Force, Operation Galamstop and the introduction of Community Mining Schemes all but to no avail.
Despite government effort in fighting the problem, the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Arm Forces and the first gentleman of the land has rather and unfortunately exonerated one of the small scale mining firms in the country who have been accused by many Ghanaians especially the community it is based in of engaging in illegal mining.
President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo at a gathering in Koforidua few days ago stated that ‘Akonta’ Mining, a company owned by the Ashanti Regional chairman of NPP Bernard Antwi Boasiako otherwise refered to as ‘Chairman Wontumi’ is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in the country as has been alluded to by many Ghanaians.
The president in delivering his remarks at a conference in Koforidua said “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 I speak”
Further, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has through the agency of 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”.
Meanwhile, ‘Akonta’ Mining Limited in October last year was accused of engaging in illegal operations from the forest reserves after they had earlier had confrontations with some of the community members in Samreboi a town in the Western North Region of Ghana.
Very often politicians pay lip services in fighting what has been regarded as a national security threat to Ghana’s natural resources. With the president statement on ‘Akonta’ Mining, the question is; Can the fight against illegal mining or ‘galamsey’ in the country ever be won?

I’m a Practicing Media Personnel /Freelance Journalist. The Editor/Blogger of this portal, with interest in Sports, Environmental and other Social issues that affects society.
A member of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and AIPS International.