Ten things to be aware of about the license revocation of Akonta Mining Company Limited

On Monday, April 21, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, declared that Akonta Mining Company Limited’s mining licenses will all be immediately revoked.

The statement comes after the company’s suspected participation in organized environmental damage and unlawful mining was made public. Ten important lessons from the Minister’s speech are as follows:

1. Licence withdrawn due to claims of illicit mining
   Citing “overwhelming evidence” of illicit mining activities, including in protected forest areas, the Lands Minister ordered the Minerals Commission to immediately terminate Akonta Mining’s lease.
2. Charges of operating a criminal organization
   Mr. Buah accused the corporation of selling unlawful mining access in the Aboi Forest Reserve for up to GH₵300,000 per concession, describing it as having “become a criminal syndicate.” According to reports, some of these agreements were made in return for weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold.

3. No permission to enter the forest
   Akonta Mining allegedly operated within the Samreboi enclave of the Western North Region without a valid forest entrance permit, making its operations unlawful even though it had a concession to mine off-reserve.
4. Threatened protected areas
   The Minister said that the company’s activities had seriously threatened Ghana’s ecology by destroying Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve sections 49 and 121 and contaminating the River Tano.
5. Organized networks are revealed by undercover investigations
   An undercover operation and other investigations revealed a well-organized group of people who facilitated unauthorized access to forest areas. The group was purportedly headed by a corporate representative known as Mr. Ayisi.

6. Involved security and forestry officials
   The Minister disclosed that several security guards and forestry officers had participated in the plot. “In return for protection and tip-offs in the event of an imminent raid, these officers accept a cut as a service charge,” Mr. Buah said.
7. Equipment seizures and arrests In an intelligence-led operation on Good Friday, 30 excavators, pump-action weapons, cars, motorcycles, and other mining equipment were seized, and 51 people were arrested, including eight Chinese and 43 Ghanaians. At this time, every suspect is being held.
8. The government pledged to bring charges
   For additional legal action, the inquiry has been taken up by Dominic Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. In addition, the Minister directed that the involved forest officials be placed under interdiction while they are being prosecuted.

9. Caution to mining firms
   “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,” the Minister stated in a severe warning. We are pursuing you because we are aware of some of your scams.
10. Galamsey’s relentless battle
    Mr. Buah reaffirmed the government’s resolve to put an end to illicit mining, saying, “We will not stop until galamsey is entirely eradicated. till our trees become green and our waterways turn blue. In closing, the Minister urged Ghanaians, particularly the media, to maintain their vigilance and notify the authorities of any illicit mining operations.

visit itrotronews everyday for updates