The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has commended the government for putting its own party members alleged to be involved in illegal mining under probe.
He says the action is rare in Ghana’s political dispensation, especially considering what transpired in the previous administration headed by William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Dr. Ashigbey’s comments follow a directive from the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akutiringa Ayine, asking the EOCO to probe two NDC officials alleged to be involved in galamsey, and also forming a taskforce to extort money from illegal miners.
The letter further directed the Office to investigate other persons found complicit in illegal mining activities, including those implicated in the Frimpong Boateng report.
The report, which was submitted in April 2023, was ignored by then President Akufo-Addo, whose appointees and party members had been cited for indulging in illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’.
Dr. Ayine directed the EOCO to investigate two national officers of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yakubu Abanga and Joseph Yamin, based on “recent credible reports”.
The A-G, in his letter to EOCO said: “I am directing your office to invite the following persons named in recent credible reports for interrogation, namely, Mr. Yakubu Abanga and Mr. Joseph Yamin.”
“The scope of this investigation should include the matters highlighted in Prof Frimpong Boateng’s report on illegal mining,” the letter added.
The EOCO is offered the opportunity to invite the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to aid investigations.
Commenting on the development on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Dr. Ashigbey contrasted this with the previous administration under Akufo-Addo, where persons implicated in galamsey activities weren’t acted upon, despite corroborated reports from the sector Minister and the Minerals Commission.
“But it is very commendable and I think that is something that should be commended that the government would haul its party officials before an investigative body,” he stated.
“When I confronted the former President when his Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and his regulator –the Minerals Commission –had accused Akonta Mining of being involved in galamsey, what did the President tell me, he told me that he was not involved in galamsey as we speak. He did not get that investigation going on,” he recounted.
The government’s directive to the EOCO to probe the Frimpong Boateng report, as well as two party officials on galamsey, forms part of the administration’s enhanced efforts to curb illegal mining, which has become a canker and threat to lives.
