The Government of Ghana has directed the Minerals Commission to revoke the mining lease of Akonta Mining Limited following allegations of the company selling portions of the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve to illegal miners at a reported GHS 350,000 per concession.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, addressing the media, this afternoon, revealed that intelligence gathered pointed to the involvement of Akonta Mining in facilitating the illegal entry of miners into protected forest areas.
According to him, some residents claimed that these miners, allegedly backed by local actors, forcibly took over farmlands and destroyed crops belonging to poor farmers.
In response, he said an intelligence-led operation was carried out by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission on the eve of Good Friday, April 17.
The operation he noted targeted six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining and lasted 12 hours on the first day alone, specifically in Compartment 19 of the reserve.
Over the past three days, the crackdown has continued with more arrests and seizures recorded.
He revealed that so far, 51 individuals have been arrested in connection with the operations comprising one Chinese national, 39 Ghanaians, and four women.
Authorities have also seized 30 excavators, five of which have been impounded at the operation base.
Additional confiscations include two pump-action guns loaded with five and two rounds of BP cartridges respectively, one single-barrel gun, two Toyota Hilux pickups, one Toyota 4×4 vehicle, four motorbikes, and other weapons.
In light of the mounting evidence, the Minister confirmed that the Minerals Commission has been instructed to take immediate steps to revoke Akonta Mining’s lease.
Furthermore, officials within the Forestry Commission allegedly connected to the illegalities have been directed to step aside pending investigations and possible prosecution.
He said security agencies have also been tasked with probing the conduct of officers suspected of colluding with Akonta Mining in the unauthorized exploitation of the forest reserve.
He stressed that the Attorney General has since been briefed and is now leading the legal processes for further action.
The minister assured the public that operations in the affected areas will continue in the coming weeks until full accountability is achieved.