NDC’s Joseph Yamin Denies Involvement in Illegal Mining Amid EOCO Probe Directive
National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, has publicly denied allegations linking him to illegal mining activities, also known as ‘galamsey’, following a directive from the Attorney-General for his interrogation.
In a Facebook post, Yamin rejected accusations made by a group of concerned small-scale miners, who claimed he and NDC National Vice Chairman Yakubu Abanga were behind an illegal taskforce allegedly operating at mining sites.
“My attention has been drawn to a press release from the Concerned Small Scale Miners in which they claim myself and the National Vice Chairman Abanga are behind what they claim is an illegal taskforce visiting their sites. I want to put on record I have no hand in the said allegations being leveled at me,” he wrote.
His statement comes in response to a letter dated July 15 from the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, directing the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate and invite both Yamin and Abanga for questioning.
The letter, sighted by 3news, indicated that the directive was based on intelligence and media reports suggesting the involvement of some individuals in illegal mining operations, in violation of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
Dr. Ayine noted the President’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining and called for EOCO to act under its mandate to restore order to Ghana’s natural resource governance.
But Yamin strongly dismissed any links to such operations, stating:
“For the records, I am not part of any galamsey taskforce, neither have I been invited to even share ideas as to how to fight these illegal mining activities of some of these small-scale miners. If there’s any taskforce parading round with my name, the said group is operating illegally and must be resisted.”
He added that he does not engage in mining, does not own a concession, and has never participated in forming or leading any taskforce associated with galamsey operations.
“I urge the small-scale miners to leave me out of their issues and approach the right authorities in finding a lasting solution to their problems. For the records again, I am not involved in any such operations,” he stressed.
EOCO has yet to comment on the next steps following the Attorney-General’s directive.
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