10 things to know about the revocation of the Akonta Mining Company Limited licence
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Monday, April 21, announced the immediate revocation of all mining licences held by Akonta Mining Company Limited.
The announcement follows revelations of the company’s alleged involvement in illegal mining and organised environmental degradation. Here are 10 key takeaways from the Minister’s address:
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1. Licence revoked over illegal mining allegations
The Lands Minister directed the Minerals Commission to revoke Akonta Mining’s lease with immediate effect, citing “overwhelming evidence” of illegal mining activities, particularly in protected forest reserves.
2. Accusations of running a criminal syndicate
Mr Buah described the company as having “become a criminal syndicate,” accusing it of selling illegal mining access in the Aboi Forest Reserve for as much as GH₵300,000 per concession. Some of these deals were allegedly sealed in exchange for weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold.
3. No permit for forest entry
Despite holding a lease to mine off-reserve, Akonta Mining reportedly operated within the Samreboi enclave of the Western North Region without a valid forest entry permit—rendering its activities illegal.
4. Protected areas under threat
According to the Minister, the company’s operations had devastated compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, as well as polluted the River Tano—posing grave threats to Ghana’s ecosystem.
5. Undercover investigations reveal organised network
Investigations, including an undercover operation, unveiled a well-coordinated network of individuals—allegedly led by a company representative identified as Mr Ayisi—who brokered illegal access to forest lands.
6. Security and forestry officials implicated
The Minister revealed that some forestry officers and security personnel were complicit in the scheme. “These officers take a cut as a service charge in exchange for protection and tip-offs in the event of an impending raid,” Mr Buah noted.
7. Arrests and equipment seizures
A Good Friday intelligence-led operation resulted in 51 arrests—comprising eight Chinese nationals and 43 Ghanaians—and the seizure of 30 excavators, pump-action guns, vehicles, motorbikes, and other mining equipment. All suspects are currently in custody.
8. Government committed to prosecution
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has taken over the investigation for further legal action. The Minister also ordered the interdiction of implicated forestry officers pending prosecution.
9. Warning to mining companies
In a stern caution, the Minister said: “This is a warning to all large-scale mining concession holders hiding behind legal leases to fund the destruction of our forests and river bodies. We know some of your schemes – we are coming after you!”
10. Galamsey fight unrelenting
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining, Mr Buah declared: “We will not stop until galamsey is completely uprooted… until our waters run blue and our forests are turned green.”
The Minister concluded by calling on the Ghanaian public, especially the media, to remain vigilant and report any illegal mining activities to the authorities.
