Four Ghanaians have actually petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to examine and prosecute Akonta Mining Limited, a mining company, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wonntumi), and others for supposed prohibited mining (galamsey) in the Tano Nimiri Forest. According to the petitioners; Ken Ashibey, Martin Kpebu, Kwame Aseidu and Edem Senanu, mining in the forest contrasted the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as modified by the Minerals and Mining (changed act) Act, 2019( Act 995). The forest lies in between Amenfi West and Aowin towns in the Western and the Western North areas respectively. Mr Boasiako is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party. The petition dated October 13, 2022, was resolved to the Director-General of the CID, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Faustina Agyeiwaa Kodua Andoh-Kwofie. It stated an evaluation of a documentary by Multimedia’s Erastus Asare Donkor, connected to the petition, revealed that in the months of August and September 2022 or thereabouts, the abovementioned individuals, mined unlawfully. “Indeed, the very same individuals performed prospecting in the exact same Forest without the requisite licences/permits,” the petition stated. It stated the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu in a press declaration on September 30, 2022 verified that Akonta Mining had no service entering into the Forest to perform any mining or associated operations. The Minister consequently verified the illegality in an interview on Joy FM while the Minerals Commission likewise validated the illegality in a press declaration dated October 3,2022 It stated copies of all those declarations had actually been connected to the petition. Offering information of the unlawful conduct, it stated, Akonta Mining entered into the Forest with excavators, pumping devices, power generators, automobiles, and other devices. It stated they cleared some parts of the forest of the trees and other greenery and consequently excavated the soil and carried out other mining operations in the forest. “These performs contrast area 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as changed by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment Act) Act, 2019 (Act 995),” it specified. The petitioners stated they carried out a search at the Company Registry which validated Mr Bernard Bosiako as a director and investor and his co-director and co-shareholder was Kwame Antwi. “Kindly examine the case and prosecute appropriately. We will comply and supply more info when hired,” the petition stated. It is remembered that the Sector Ministry on September 30, directed mining company, Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest with instant result following media reports about their activities. It stated despite the fact that the company had a mining lease to carry out mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the business had no mineral right to carry out any mining operations in the forest. The Office of the Special Prosecutor has actually begun an examination into presumed corruption and corruption-related offenses in regard of prohibited mining with Akonta Mining as one of its topics. BY TIMES REPORTER
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