One of Ghana’s illustrious businessmen, Dr Kofi Amoah, has called on President John Dramani Mahama and the heads of all allied agencies tasked to investigate the ongoing Akonta Mining Limited versus Minerals Commission saga to go the long haul in exposing the perpetrators of the Forest destruction.
According to Dr Amoah, a pristine opportunity has arisen for the president to decisively deal with the galamsey menace, using the Akonta mining saga as a test case.
A few days ago, the government announced a revocation of the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Limited following revelations of the company’s deep involvement in illegal mining activities—commonly known as galamsey—within protected forest reserves.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 21, 2025, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah-Kofi Buah, outlined findings from recent undercover investigations, which uncovered that Akonta Mining was operating unlawfully in forest reserves despite lacking the necessary permits.
According to the minister, although Akonta Mining is licensed to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached into the Western North Region’s Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves.
The investigations further revealed that Akonta Mining had been selling access to these reserves to illegal miners for as much as GH¢300,000 per concession.
In return, some of these miners allegedly paid weekly royalties in gold—up to 250 grams—to the company.
According to Dr Amoah, these revelations should scare the conscience of any well-meaning Ghanaian.
Reacting to the issue on his official X (formally Twitter) handle known as CitizenKofi@amoah_citizen, Dr Amoah said the sheer scale and abrasiveness of the allegations against Akonta mining suggest they had political protection from the recently ousted NPP government.
“…. Follow Wontumi and Akonta mines money, recruit forensic accountants to hunt down all the criminals who shielded this nation-wrecking malfeasance and shared the galamsey money.
“Wontumi could not have done all this damage for so long with unabashed impunity to become so rich and arrogant without political and security operatives’ cover.
“Who was/is covering up for Wontumi and most likely got/getting kickbacks?”
Dr Amoah likened the scandal to the famous Watergate scandal of America, arguing that the Akonta Mining Saga is even bigger in the scale of its environmental destruction and other crimes.
“This is the tip of “Ghana’s Watergate” scandal and even bigger in its extent of environmental destruction, illegalities and siphoning off billions of dollars of Ghana’s gold assets… this is not a joke!”
He, therefore, called on President Mahama not to disappoint on the back of his promise to reset the country.
“Your Excellency @JDMahama the present sanctity and future positive prospects of Ghana lie in you and your govt’s hands.
PLS, Sir, DO NOT DISAPPOINT, we have reposed tremendous hope and faith in your honesty and diligence.
Use Emergency Executive orders a la Trump (or similar provisions in Ghana’s constitution) for swift justice and let’s not get bogged down in our delay-to-nowhere judicial system.”
Finally, Dr Amoah called on all stakeholders to push the current administration to deal with the matter properly, transparently and expeditiously.
“Also, any media house that was close to the former govt and served as their protective mouthpiece, eg Asaase Radio, and others as well as individuals must step forward with helpful info and not wait to be subpoenaed.
“Ghana must work as a collective machine to back and also urge/push/cajole the govt and get this important matter dealt with properly, transparently and expeditiously.
No longer:
See no evil
Hear no evil
Speak no evil
Thank you.”
In the last few years, Ghana appears to be losing its fight against illegal mining activities commonly known as galamsey.
The uncontrolled activities of galamsey adversely affect water bodies, vegetation, wild animals, human health, and safety.
Various stakeholders are calling for the abolishment or regularisation of galamsey as well as the restoration of abandoned sites across the country.
Indeed, several policy initiatives have been taken to stop illegal mining, but these efforts appear ineffective as galamsey operations are on the rise.
Read Dr Kofi Amoah’s take on the subject in the Twitter post below:
THIS NONSENSE from abrasive Wontumi and his Akonta Mines must stop
Hear them:
“We are not responsible for activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve…”
Where did the gold bars Wontumi was pompously displaying on TV come from and who owns them?
Can we hear from the corrupt…
— CitizenKofi (@amoah_citizen) April 24, 2025
MA
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