A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato has said that the illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) menace requires a state of emergency to deal with.
He expressed the view that a state of emergency would allow the bank accounts of the financiers of galamsey to be frozen.
“I still believe we need the state of emergency over the Galamsey issue, and in memory of the fallen 8, I think we should ban all forms of surface mining. It will help us quickly address this menace.
“We need the state of emergency, and we need it now. This is an existential crisis and so you adopt all of the above approaches, begin to freeze bank accounts of financiers,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, October 4, while commenting on the President’s engagement with civil society organisations.
During the meeting, President Mahama said, among other things, that he will only declare a state of emergency over the illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) if the National Security Council advises him to do so.
He says the National Security Council believes that the fight can be won without a state of emergency.
“The president acts on the advice of the National Security Council. The National Security Council believes we can win the fight without a state of emergency. The day they advise me otherwise, I will not hesitate in declaring,” he told civil society organisations in Accra on Friday, October 3.
The President also touched on measures to tackle galamsey. He said about the registration and licensing of excavators as one of the measures to help in tracking the galamseyers.
President Mahama also served notice to Shipping lines that they will be penalised if they bring in excavators without permission.
“We shall penalise you for carrying those excavators here to Ghana without a permit,” he warned the shipping companies.
He added that “Every excavator must be registered with the owner known.”
He expressed the view that President John Dramani Mahama has shown leadership in the fight against illegal mining.
“We have made progress, and we are on the right path. What gives me confidence is the political will and the leadership that President Mahama is providing,” he said at the same event.
For his part, the Attorney-General said that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has been asked to report to Accra on Monday, October 6 for his charges to be read to him following the alleged involvement of his Akonta Mining firm in illegal small-scale mining.
The Attorney-General, who made this announcement, indicated that failure to report to Accra on Monday will lead to his arrest.
Dr Ayine said, “the charges against Wontumi, Akonta Mining have been signed. He should be here on Monday. If he doesn’t come by Monday, I will order his arrest, and his charges will be read to him.”
It is recalled that Director-General of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, announced that investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining, owned by Chairman Wontumi), were ongoing.
The CID boss said one other person had also been arrested in relation to the matter.
Asked about the current state of affairs in relation to the investigation into the activities of Akonta Mining, during a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 30, she said, “That case is also actively ongoing. Chairman Wontumi has visited us a couple of times; he is actually supposed to be coming back to us sometime this week. Unfortunately, he was ill, and his lawyer submitted a letter to us that he was ill.
“I believe he is now ok because we have communicated to them that he should be seeing us this week, and they have responded. So the investigations are actively ongoing.
“I must mention that he is not the only one we have arrested or are investigating; there are a number of people we consider persons of interest. Last week, for instance, he had a partner, one Akuoko, who was part of the investigations on Akonta Mining; he was also arrested here and detained.
Chairman Wontumi first appeared before the CID on Monday, May 26, 2025, over investigations into the operations of his company, Akonta Mining.
He earlier denied reports that he was involved in illegal mining.
After the Forestry Commission was directed to halt the activities of Akonta Mining Limited’s operation, Mr. Boasiako said he was willing to allow due process.
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work,” he said on his TV station, Wontumi TV.
Mr. Boasiako also responded to speculation that he is involved in illegal mining, saying, “I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey.”
“I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available,” he added.
