The Forestry Commission has announced plans to investigate and sanction any staff members found to be aiding illegal mining activities.
This comes in response to allegations by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, that some Commission staff are colluding with illegal miners to degrade the environment.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Elikem Kotoku emphasized that thorough investigations will be carried out to identify and penalize those involved.
“Any officer found complicit in illegal mining activities will face full investigation, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. As a Commission, we are committed to upholding our institutional ethics, and anyone who violates them will be held accountable,” he stated.
The Lands Minister on Monday, April 21, ordered the revocation of the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Ltd. following revelations of the company’s deep involvement in illegal mining activities—commonly known as galamsey—within protected forest reserves.
In a presser, he 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 holds a license to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached on the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.
The investigations further revealed that Akonta Mining had been selling access to these reserves to illegal miners for as much as GHS 300,000 per concession. In return, some of these miners allegedly paid weekly royalties in gold, up to 250 grams, to the company.
