Government in an intelligence-led operation on Good Friday by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission raided six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining and revoked the mining lease of the company following revelations that it is deeply involved in illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey within protected forest reserves.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah who disclosed this on Monday 21, April, 2025 during a press briefing outlined findings from the recent undercover investigations which uncovered that Akonta Mining was operating unlawfully in forest reserves despite lacking the necessary permits.
According to him, although Akonta Mining holds a license to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached into the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.
The investigations further revealed that Akonta Mining had been selling access to these reserves to illegal miners for as much as GHS 300,000 per concession. In return, some of these miners allegedly paid weekly royalties in gold—up to 250 grams—to the company.
The Minister identified key individuals involved in these illicit activities, including a company liaison named Mr. Ayisi, who facilitated the deals, and two others known as “Mr. Henry” and “Shark,” who were reportedly responsible for overseeing the on-ground destruction of the forest landscape.
The revelations led to a joint operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission, which yielded significant results.
“Armed with this intel, on the eve of Good Friday (17th April 2025), an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission led to the raid of six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining.
The operation in Compartment 49, which began at 5 a.m. and lasted a whopping 12 hours, resulted in 51 arrests comprising 8 Chinese, 39 Ghanaian men, 4 Ghanaian women.
It resulted in the seizure of about 30 excavators, 5 recovered and impounded at the operation base, 2 pump-action guns loaded with 5 and 2 rounds of BB cartridges each whist 1 single-barrel gun was retrieved.
The raid also led to the confiscation of 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, 4 motorbikes, and a cache of mining equipment.
All suspects are currently in custody in Accra pending prosecution.
