The District Chief Executive for Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region, Hamidu Abdallah, has denied allegations of involvement in illegal mining. He has described the claims as false and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation.
The denial follows allegations by a group of Assembly Members that he was colluding with illegal miners whose activities have degraded farmlands and water bodies in the district.
The group, led by the Assembly Member for Akokofe, Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor, alleged that galamsey was ongoing in communities including Beposo, Yaase, Adwafo, Amakom and Konkoma.
“The DCE, Hamidu, is colluding with illegal miners to degrade our environment. Right now, illegal mining is ongoing in some communities,” he alleged.
The Assembly Members claimed the DCE had denied the existence of galamsey in the district until a recent operation by a regional task force led to the seizure of five excavators.
They have threatened to petition President John Dramani Mahama and pursue a vote of no confidence against him. But Abdallah has strongly rejected the claims.
“I have never been involved in any form of mining, be it legal or illegal, in my entire life, let alone illegal mining. I have no concession, no excavator, and no hand in galamsey anywhere in Bosomtwe,” he said.
He said his administration has rather been fighting the menace, especially around Lake Bosomtwe, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
According to him, the operation that led to the seizure of five excavators and dismantling of pumping machines was carried out under his leadership in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council and the District Security Council.
“How can I be the one leading the operation to seize excavators and at the same time be accused of owning those same excavators? The logic does not hold,” he said.
He said after receiving reports of illegal mining near the lake, he personally led a team to inspect the sites and wrote to the Regional Minister and the Minerals Commission for licences in the enclave to be reviewed.
On legal action, the DCE said he has instructed his lawyers to sue Nana Nyansapor. “As for the allegations of illegal mining levelled against me, I will never forgive them. I have instructed my lawyer to file a lawsuit,” he said.
He attributed the allegations to internal politics, claiming some Assembly Members were frustrated after their attempts to secure mining-related favours were blocked.
Some assemblies are collecting fees and levies at galamsey sites – Ken Ashigbey
