Minerals Commission has fired back at Akonta Mining Limited, brushing aside claims of political bias and defending its decision to revoke the company’s mining lease with a pointed message: the evidence speaks for itself.
On Tuesday, April 22, the Commission’s CEO, Isaac Andrew Tandoh, didn’t mince words during an interview with Citi FM. “The conditions and the videos we have now are more than enough to go after the perpetrators,” he declared. “This is just the beginning.”
According to Mr. Tandoh, the Commission’s action follows months of investigation that uncovered what he describes as a flagrant breach of mining laws. Visual documentation and field reports allegedly place Akonta Mining at the center of illegal operations in the Aboi Forest Reserve.
“The Attorney General has been advised to pursue these matters and ensure that those behind these offences are brought to book,” Mr.Tandoh added, brushing aside the company’s attempts to clear its name through media rebuttals. “People can write letters and issue rebuttals in the newspapers; that is not something I will concern myself with.”
The storm erupted after the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, ordered the revocation of Akonta Mining’s lease. He accused the company of more than just unauthorized activity—he painted a picture of a well-oiled, illicit mining cartel.
“This company has not only trespassed into protected reserves but has become a criminal syndicate,” Buah stated. “They’ve been selling access to the Aboi Forest Reserve to illegal miners for up to GH₵300,000 per concession.”
Even more alarming, Buah revealed a disturbing financial arrangement where, in lieu of cash, some miners paid Akonta Mining with 250 grams of gold weekly—a tidy royalty that, according to the minister, helped bankroll environmental destruction in the River Tano basin.
Akonta Mining, however, isn’t backing down. In a strongly worded statement, the company lashed out at the government, labeling the move “a clear breach of natural justice and a politically motivated act.”
“The Honourable Minister’s decision to publicly link Akonta Mining to illegal mining activities and to call for the revocation of our mining licence is not only unjust and premature, but also a clear case of seeking to hang the dog and give it a bad name,” the company charged.
Akonta has denied all allegations, including the sale of concessions and the gold-for-access deal, insisting that it has operated within legal bounds. Still, with the Minerals Commission doubling down and the Attorney General reportedly preparing legal action, the stakes have never been higher.
As the political and environmental fallout unfolds, one thing is clear: Ghana’s crackdown on galamsey has found its latest—and perhaps most high-profile—target.
Source:TheDotNews