Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has directed the Minerals Commission to revoke the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Ltd.
This follows revelations that the company is deeply involved in illegal mining activities—commonly known as galamsey—within protected forest reserves in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra yesterday, the sector minister outlined findings from recent undercover investigations which revealed that Akonta Mining was operating unlawfully in forest reserves despite lacking the necessary permits.
According to the minister, although Akonta Mining holds a licence to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached into 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 GH¢300,000 per concession. In return, some of these miners allegedly paid weekly royalties in gold—up to 250 grams—to the company.
“This company has not only trespassed into protected reserves but has become a criminal syndicate, selling access of the Aboi Forest Reserve to illegal miners for a staggering GH¢300,000 per concession.
“Worse, these illegal miners operate under Akonta’s protection, devastating the River Tano and surrounding forests with impunity,” Mr. Buah said.
He continued, “As part of the agreement between Akonta Mining and the illegal miners, weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold are to be paid to the company, lining the pockets of Akonta’s collaborators.”
The minister identified key individuals involved in these illicit activities, including a company liaison named Mr. Ayisi, who facilitated the deals, and two others known as “Mr. Henry” and “Shark,” who were reportedly responsible for overseeing the on-ground destruction of the forest landscape.
The revelations led to a joint operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission, which yielded significant results.
“Armed with this intel, on the eve of Good Friday (April 17, 2025), an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission led to the raid of six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining.
“The operation in Compartment 49, which began at 5 a.m. and lasted a whopping 12 hours, resulted in 51 arrests (8 Chinese, 39 Ghanaian men, 4 Ghanaian women), seizure of about 30 excavators – 5 recovered and impounded at the operation base, 2 pump-action guns loaded with 5 and 2 rounds of BB cartridges each, 1 single-barrel gun retrieved, confiscation of 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, 4 motorbikes, and a cache of mining equipment.”
All suspects are currently in custody in Accra pending prosecution.
A Daily Guide Report