By Kizito CUDJOE
The government has taken a decisive step in its renewed fight against illegal mining, with the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, ordering the immediate revocation of the lease granted to Akonta Mining Company Limited.
The directive follows a joint security operation that led to the arrest of 51 individuals, including eight Chinese nationals, alleged to be engaged in illegal mining under the cover of Akonta Mining’s name.
“Akonta Mining does not have a lease to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, and their activities there are illegal and criminal,” Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah said at a press briefing in Accra.
“The Mahama government will stop at nothing to bring the company to book. 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.”
The Minister said investigations revealed that although Akonta Mining holds a legal lease to operate off-reserve, the company was found to be actively mining within forest reserves, including the Samreboi enclave in the Western North region.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah described the company as having “trespassed into protected reserves” and alleged it was operating a “criminal syndicate,” charging GH₵ 300,000 per concession to illegal miners in the Aboi Forest Reserve.
He said the illegal miners, under the company’s protection, were damaging the River Tano and surrounding forest areas, including compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimiri reserve.
According to the Minister, some of the illegal miners reportedly paid Akonta Mining 250 grams of gold weekly.
He also alleged collusion between the company, forestry officers, and some security personnel, who received cuts of the fees in exchange for providing protection and advance warnings of possible raids.
“Another heartbreaking revelation is that this criminal enterprise thrives because of the active collusion and connivance of some forestry officers and security personnel,” Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah said.
Several Forestry Commission officials have been interdicted pending investigations and possible prosecution, the Minister added.
The 12-hour operation by the Ghana Police Service and Forestry Commission reportedly targeted six sites linked to the company.
Authorities seized approximately 30 excavators – five of which were impounded – along with two pump-action shotguns, a single-barrel gun, mining equipment, two Toyota Hilux pickups, one Toyota RAV4, and four motorbikes.
“To the youth engaged in illegal mining: There is a better way. We stand ready to support you with better alternatives. But to those who persist in defiance, the state will act without mercy,” the Minister warned.
The Ministry said the arrests and the license revocation are part of a broader government crackdown on illegal mining, which continues to threaten Ghana’s forests and water bodies.
Speaking on behalf of Akonta Mining, in a telephone interview, Andy Appiah Kubi said the company has not sent any person or persons to any of the mining areas.
“Whoever comes there is fraudulent. We haven’t sent anybody to the forestry lands. We have also not given access to anybody to go into forestry lands, for mining,” he stated.
He maintained that Akonta Mining Company Limited is a legitimately licensed mining company. However, at the moment, he said the company has suspended its mining activities or operations and, therefore, not true that some officials of the company are working on any of the forestry lands.
Additionally, Mr. Appiah Kubi indicated that the company has not been invited by any investigative committee or agency concerning mining in any of the forestry lands.
“We have not been given any opportunity to present our position, so the Minister is acting ultra vires,” he observed.
