ACCRA — April 22, 2025 — The Minerals Commission of Ghana has confirmed it possesses concrete evidence linking Akonta Mining Limited to illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, despite the company’s repeated public denials.
Appearing on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday morning, Isaac Andrew Tandoh, CEO of the Commission, stated that their investigations have uncovered verified intelligence, including video footage and geolocation data, directly implicating Akonta Mining in unlawful operations in the protected forest area.
“For the intelligence we have now, the conditions and the videos we have now are more than enough to go after the perpetrators,” Tandoh declared. “The Attorney General has been advised to pick up these conversations and ensure that the powers behind these perpetrators are brought to book.”
Firm Denials Brushed Aside
Akonta Mining—owned by Bernard Antwi Boasiako (aka Chairman Wontumi), a prominent figure in the New Patriotic Party—has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that its operations remain within the bounds of the law and existing permits.
But Tandoh dismissed these claims as public relations gimmicks, reiterating that the Commission’s findings are based on hard evidence, not hearsay.
“People can write letters and issue rebuttals in the newspapers; that is not something I will bother my head with… This is just the beginning,” he said, emphasizing that enforcement actions will follow.
License Revocation and Prosecution Ahead
Tandoh’s comments come just a day after Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah formally revoked Akonta Mining’s lease, stating that the company illegally expanded its operations into the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves.
The revocation is part of a broader crackdown on galamsey—the local term for illegal mining—which has devastated large tracts of forest and polluted water bodies across the country.
The government, through joint operations led by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission, has already conducted high-profile raids, arrested suspects, and seized equipment at multiple illegal mining sites.
A Turning Point in Anti-Galamsey Efforts?
With the Minerals Commission and Ministry now aligned on Akonta Mining’s violations, the case is expected to move swiftly to the Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution.
Tandoh assured the public that this case would serve as a strong deterrent to others in the industry who may attempt similar illegal incursions into protected areas.
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