The government has revoked the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Ltd. following revelations of the company’s deep involvement in illegal mining activities—commonly known as galamsey—within protected forest reserves
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Armah-Kofi Buah, presented the results of recent undercover investigations that revealed Akonta Mining was conducting illegal operations in forest reserves without the required permits during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 21, 2025.
The Minister claims that despite having a licence to operate off-reserve, Akonta Mining has intruded into the Western North Region’s Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves.
Investigations also showed that Akonta Mining has been charging illegal miners up to GHS 300,000 per concession for access to these riches. Some of these miners reportedly sent the firm weekly royalties in gold, up to 250 grammes, in exchange.
The Minister highlighted important players in these illegal acts, such as Mr. Ayisi, a company liaison who helped to arrange the transactions, and two other people called “Mr. Henry” and “Shark,” who were allegedly in charge of supervising the actual devastation of the forest.
Following the discoveries, the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission conducted a coordinated operation that produced noteworthy outcomes.
Equipped with this knowledge, the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission conducted an intelligence-led operation on the eve of Good Friday, April 17, 2025, which resulted in the search of six illicit mining sites connected to Akonta Mining.
Beginning at 5 a.m. and lasting an incredible 12 hours, the operation in Compartment 49 produced the following results: 51 arrests (8 Chinese, 39 Ghanaian men, and 4 Ghanaian women); approximately 30 excavators were seized, five of which were recovered and impounded at the operation base; two pump-action guns filled with five and two rounds of BB cartridges each; one single-barrel gun was recovered; two Toyota Hilux pickups, one Toyota RAV4, four motorcycles, and a cache of mining equipment were seized.
All of the suspects are being held in Accra while they are being prosecuted.