The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has issued a strong call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Akonta Mining Ltd, citing the government’s continued inaction as a dangerous endorsement of impunity.
In a press statement released on Sunday, May 18, 2025, the coalition expressed disappointment over what it described as a glaring failure by the government to enforce laws against the company’s well-documented illegal mining activities, particularly in the Tano River and the Tano Nmiri Forest Reserve.
According to the coalition, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has already published findings on the unlawful operations of Akonta Mining, yet no arrests or prosecutions have been made, over a month since those revelations.
“We were assured of swift action against the directors of Akonta Mining and government officials found culpable through negligence or aiding and abetting. Yet no arrest has been effected, nor has prosecution commenced,” the statement read.
The coalition acknowledged the government’s decision to freeze the company’s accounts but stressed that this alone was not enough to demonstrate genuine commitment to ending galamsey.
“The government must act decisively in accordance with Act 995 to demonstrate that no one is above the law,” the group asserted.
The statement further emphasized that the law must apply without fear or favour, even to politically exposed persons or individuals of high social standing.
The coalition urged the prosecution of not just the Managing Director and Board of Akonta Mining, but also any government officials within the Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, or security services who may have aided the company’s operations.
Read the full statement by the coalition below:
