Galamsey: Forestry Commission vows to sanction staff aiding illegal miners

The Forestry Commission has pointed out that it will investigate and sanction any staff who is assisting and encouraging illegal miners in the country.

This follows a call by the Minister of Land and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi-Armah Buah, that some of the members of the Forestry Commission conspire with illegal miners to destroy the environment.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Mr. Elikem Kotoku has enunciated that investigations will be conducted in other to bring the culprit to face the law.

He stated that, “Those officers who are complicit in any involvement in any illegal mining will be thoroughly investigated, and any other punitive action that has to be taken against them will be done so that things are done properly. As a commission, we only have to continue to work and abide by the ethics that are established by the institution, and anyone who acts contrary will have to be dealt with”.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Monday, April 21, arranged for the annulment of the Akonta Mining Company Ltd. as a result of the company’s intense engagement in illegal mining usually referred to as galamsey within protected forest reserves in the country.

During a press conference, the Minister underscored findings from recent underground investigations which disclosed that the Akonta Mining was unlawfully operating in the forest reserve despite lacking the essential permit.

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.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources reaffirms its commitment to promoting responsible land use, conserving our forests, safeguarding water bodies, and protecting biodiversity.

Let us work together to ensure that the natural resources entrusted to us today are managed wisely and preserved for the benefit of the future generations.