Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
A group of concerned small-scale miners are levelling serious allegations against key figures within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and senior military officers, accusing them of operating a shadowy anti-galamsey taskforce that is ‘terrorising’ miners and extorting money under the guise of enforcing illegal mining laws.
Chairman of the Concerned Small Scale Mining Group in Ghana (CSSMGG), Andrew Abban, alleged that Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC, and Yakubu Abanga, the party’s 3rd Vice-Chairperson, are names mostly cited by operatives of the parallel taskforce harassing small scale miners in the various regions.
“We have information that these operatives use the names of some National Democratic Congress party executives to extort monies. Common names that are mentioned by these parallel taskforce assigns have been Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC and Yakubu Abanga, 3rd Vice-Chairperson of the NDC and others,” he said.
The miners expressed disbelief that individuals closely linked to the ruling party would be implicated in actions that undermine the government’s own fight against illegal mining.
“We are also surprised that rather than helping us to carry out our legitimate business, some persons within the ruling NDC are aiding the activities of these unscrupulous persons posing as parallel taskforce against galamsey to destroy our businesses,” Mr. Abban said.
The group lamented that the actions of these politically connected individuals have created an environment of fear and lawlessness in the mining sector, forcing many small scale miners to flee their sites.
“Some of our members, sadly, have refused to go to their sites, fearing that they may be attacked by these illegal anti-galamsey taskforce,” he disclosed.
The group further alleged extortion schemes being enforced by a network of uniformed officers from the Ghana Armed Forces and National Security, who storm mining concessions with weapons, ransack properties, and demand cash payments.
“These assigns carry sophisticated weapons in full military uniforms, ransack the sites of our members and subject them to inhuman treatment, including extortion of money,” the miners claimed.
They are calling for urgent presidential intervention, insisting that the activities of the parallel taskforce directly contradict the President’s recent directive to streamline enforcement through a single, coordinated national anti-galamsey taskforce.
“We hereby call on the President who has since the assumption of power shown respect for our work to act decisively to halt the activities of these parallel groups.
“We also take this opportunity to commend the President for selecting for us a noble character as Minister to oversee our legitimate business,” Mr. Abban stated.
The group also made a passionate appeal to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, to intensify efforts to disband all illegal operatives and consolidate enforcement under the legitimate national taskforce.
“We are hopeful that bringing these issues to the public domain, the President would tackle our concerns and together with the Minister of Lands work to address same,” the group added.
NDC Executives Deny Involvement
In response, both Joseph Yamin and Yakubu Abanga have flatly denied any involvement with the alleged rogue taskforce, and condemned the use of their names in any illegal operation.
According to Yamin, any person or group that would visit a mining concession of the Concerned Small Scale Miners in his name to frustrate their operations should be immediately arrested, since he has not authorised anybody to do so.
“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 to be an illegal taskforce visiting their sites.
“I want to put on record that I have no hand in the said allegations being levelled at me. 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 from their operations,” he stated, reiterating that he has never authorised any taskforce to terrorise or frustrate the small scale miners.
Speaking to RawGist Online, Mr. Yamin said, “I have never engaged in mining. I would be the last to sanction the activities of any illegal taskforce or group. I have been diligent in reporting persons who are engaged in illegal activities, including mining, to the appropriate quarters.”
He urged National Security to investigate and arrest anyone using his name to extort money from miners.
“Anyone who goes about using my name to terrorise or extort money from licensed and legitimate mining companies must be arrested and prosecuted,” he added.
Similarly, Mr. Yakubu Abanga, who confirmed that he is a licensed miner with concessions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, said he has no links to any illegal taskforce.
“I am a private businessman and a licensed miner and will never sanction, support or involve myself in any enterprise that would undermine my own government and the state’s commitment in fighting illegal mining,” he stated.
He added that some of his own concessions were taken under the previous administration and are currently the subject of court action. He emphasised that he would not take part in any activity that undermines the integrity of the mining sector.
Lands Ministry Promises to Dismantle Illegal Taskforce
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has promised to intensify efforts to bring order to the small scale mining sector.
“These illegal elements are undermining the efforts of the state. They do not represent the mandate of the government and must be stopped,” the Minister recently stated.
A Daily Guide Report