Eco-Conscious Citizens demands prosecution over illegal mining activities

The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Madam Awula Serwaa, has called for legal action against individuals and companies violating the country’s mining regulations.

According to her, Ghana urgently needs to protect her forest reserves from further degradation caused by illegal and unethical mining practices. She expressed deep concern over the lack of enforcement of environmental laws, citing specific instances such as the controversial operations of Akonta Mining in the Tano-Nimiri Forest Reserve.

“We’re talking about lack of compliance, and even when people licenses, when they go outside the parameters of their license, what happens? Let’s look at the example of Akonta Mining

“If truly they didn’t have a license and yet they destroyed part of the Tano-Nimiri forest reserve, what action is being taken? We haven’t heard that the directors have been investigated, we haven’t heard that any prosecutions are going to take place. What signal is this sending? She quizzed

Madam Awula Serwaa also referenced a recent incident in Kumasi involving the unauthorized removal of excavators, an important exhibits in illegal mining cases from the custody of the Forestry Commission. She explained that this pattern of impunity undermines environmental governance and poses serious threats to national health and security. She warned that if Ghana fails to act decisively, the country could descend into a situation similar to that of certain Latin American nations plagued by unchecked environmental exploitation.

“Now we look at what happened recently in Kumasi where excavators, which were clearly exhibits, were being taken away, here’s been no follow up, what has happened? Has there been any accountability? Has anybody been arrested? Has anybody lost their job?

“How did it happen that exhibits were being removed from the custody of the Forestry Commission. You know these are the things that show that when there’s no compliance nothing happens, there’s no enforcement taking place, we’ve been given names of party persons who are allegedly involved in illegal mining. What is happening? So I think that right now I’ve said it over and over again the house is burning. If we don’t act now in addition to the health concerns, the national security concerns, if we don’t act now Ghana is going to say to the level of some Latin American country.” She said.

“We need to ensure compliance. There must be prosecutions,” she declared. “We should see the prosecution of the directors of Akonta Mining. Those party officials whose names have come up must also be held accountable. Otherwise, it appears there’s no political will to deal with this crisis—and we did not vote for musical chairs.”

She urged the government and relevant authorities to prioritize environmental protection through stringent enforcement of mining laws, transparent investigations, and public accountability.

“We need to ensure compliance, there must be prosecutions, we can’t just mention things and then there’s no follow up and the people are just walking around and no is being taken. We should see the prosecution of directors of Akonta mining. The party chairman who have been mentioned, we should see some prosecutions taking place. Otherwise, it appears there’s no political will to deal with persons and we did not vote for musical chairs.” She stated

Source: Elvisanokyenews.net