The Talensi Traditional Council in the Upper East Region of Ghana in a resolution, has issued a two-week ultimatum to a group calling itself Talensi Mining Community Initiative (TAMCI) for alleging bribery and corruption in recruitment of workers into the large scale mining companies in the district.
These allegations by the TAMCI, was made against the members of the Talensi Traditional Council, including its interim employment Committee.
The TAMCI, on July 12, 2025, held a press conference in Yameriga with the focus of series of allegations on the Talensi Traditional Council and the Recruitment Committee for involving in bribery and corruption in the recruitment process.
Part of the press statement of TAMCI read by the secretary, Gilbert Toah Laadolba reads: “Certain positions in the company ( Cardinal Namdimi mining company) are allegedly sold for various amounts of money ranging from GHC 20,000 to GHC 35,000.”
The TAMCI statement further alleged that “even certain traditional rulers are condoning and collaborating in this recruitment (misconduct) at Cardinal Namdimi.”
The TAMCI, which is just a civil society organization and has not been recognized by the mining companies and the district Assembly as an entity to make developmental projects demands on behalf of the residents, was brought to the attention of the Talensi Traditional Council.
“TAMCI prepared proposed Relationship Agreements in Social Responsibility, Employment and Development Fund, engaged and obtained the understanding and support of traditional rulers and relevant stakeholders of the company. We distributed the documents for collation of ideas and editing from the Paramount Chief and President of the Talensi Traditional Council, Member of Parliament, the DCE, and the Regional Minister,” TAMCI stated.
But the Talensi Traditional Council in its resolution in a meeting on Saturday, July 19, 2025 indicated that TAMCI has no mandate or locus in the Talensi Traditional Area, authorizing them to represent, negotiate or communicate for or on behalf of the people of Talensi in any part or form.
Part of the resolution said ” The leadership of the Talensi Mining Community Initiative, TAMCI are hereby further cautioned not to assume any role not assigned to them traditionally or by law in the Traditional Area”.
On allegations of bribery and corruption in recruitment in the mining companies specifically Cardinal Namdimi Mining by the traditional rulers and the Recruitment Committee, the Traditional Council has given TAMCI two weeks to produce evidence of the allegations made against the Committee and failure of which the Council will take actions against TAMCI.
The Talensi Traditional Council further warned: “The unauthorized and self-appointed posture of TAMCI and it’s illegal representation of the people. assuming power without mandate to represent the people and requesting for monies from the Mining Companies”, must, as a matter of seriousness, seize.
The TAMCI’s acitivities, according to the Talensi Traditional Council is already creating uneasiness in the area, and that the traditional area is currently enjoying relative peace and tranquility and they shall not sit down for TAMCI or any authorized group to destroy the peace they have now.
The traditional council has disclosed a fair and all inclusive recruitment process and employment in the mining companies and that all communities have a fair share of employment in the mining companies depending on the type of job residents are capable of doing and is available.
The Talensi Traditional Council has revealed more than one thousand plus residents in the Upper East Region and beyond were employed in Cardinal Namdimi Mining company contained in the March recruitment Committee report compiled by the company and more than half of them are from Talensi District, which it says, is a sign of progress in making the gold blessings a reality.
As part of efforts to demand for better development from the Mining Companies, the Talensi Traditional Council has given the companies by the end of August 2025 for the signing of the social responsibility agreement as a way of making the gold deposit in the area a blessing.
