The Minister of Land and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor has revealed that the Akonta Mining case has been forwarded to the Inspector General of Police.
Abu Jinapor speaking in an interview with JOY FM Super Morning Show stated Akonta Mining claimed they were working on getting a license to Mine in the Forest Reserve, but the Forestry Commission acted and investigated the issue.
The minister said, “This particular incident you are talking about it is the ministry and the forestry commission that took action that flashed out whatever activity that was taking place in that particular forest reserve”.
“Akonta Mining had made a claim that they were just making preparation, for a license and so on and so forth, but the forest commission did not take any of that, they acted, they investigated and prepared the report”, Abu Jinapor stated.
Abu Jinapor further revealed saying, “The report was sent to the interior minister to be forwarded to the Inspector General of Police that is the extent to which we can go as a ministry and as Forestry Commission. The rest of it falls in the law enforcement and prosecutorial agency of our county if they were to deem it legally fit to proceed in that particular manner”.
Hon. Jinapor praised the work done by the Forestry Commission after working with them for the past four years claiming they have done tremendous work in cordoning off the forest reserve in our country
The Ashanti Regional Chairman Wontumi of the NPP is known to be the owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited which is said to have been operating illegally in the Nimri Tano Forest reserve in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region. There have been calls for the prosecution of Chairman Wontumi for his operation in the forest reserve.
According to the government, the mining company has a lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi but stated the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has come out to defend the owner of Akonta Mining, he claims Chairman Wontumi is not involved in galamsey.
Watch the video below:
Lands Minister explains why we did not see any further action on Akonta Mining after they were found to be mining in a forest reserve. #JoySMS pic.twitter.com/Nj1pjQZsQ3
— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) October 9, 2024
