Ghana Reportage (2024)

07/10/2022

Akufo-Addo’s fight against illegal mining is a complete ‘419’ – Sammy Gyamfi

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communication Officer has accused President Akufo-Addo of faking his efforts to combat illegal mining in the country.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Sammy Gyamfi said that the President’s fight against ‘galamsey’ is a “complete 419 scam”.

This according to him, is because “the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government has not exhibited any genuine commitment to the fight against ‘galamsey’. And that their so-called fight against ‘galamsey’ is nothing but a scam.”

This comes after President Akufo-Addo, while addressing a forum against illegal mining organised chiefly to get Ghana’s Chiefs involved in the fight against illegal mining in 2017, declared that he has put his presidency on the line to fight ‘galamsey’.

During his meeting with the leadership of the National House of Chiefs and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his commitment noting that he was being truthful when he made that proclamation in 2017.

However, the National Communication Officer of the NDC believes otherwise.

Source: myjoyonline

03/10/2022

ECG might have paid ransom over hacked system – Kwabena Donkor

Former Minister for Power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor says he will not be surprised to learn that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) paid a ransom for the restoration of its hacked system.
ECG in the past few days had technical challenges affecting smooth service provision to prepaid customers in some operational areas of the country.

Some ECG customers were unable to top-up electric power credit on prepaid metres for the past few days.

However, speaking on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban Monday, the former Power Minister advised the government to have a vigorous Information Technology (IT) system that can curb losses in the system and resist cybercrime.

According to him, there is a global trend of cybercrime therefore the government must improve its system “so that you will not be held hostage by cybercriminals either within or without.”

“I wouldn’t say that we were made to pay a ransom but I don’t rule that out. It is a global trend and so you can’t rule that out. Banks elsewhere have had their IT system hijacked and they’ve been forced to pay ransom in other jurisdictions. Nothing makes us exceptional,” the lawmaker added.

He said there are close to 30 percent losses even before the ECG sells, adding that it is only technology that will minimize losses, especially the commercial losses.

Meanwhile, the Management of ECG in a release dated October 1, 2022 stated that the issues of the third part vending have been resolved.

03/10/2022

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) says he is not engaged in any illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey.”
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, said his company, Akonta Mining Limited, has all the required documentation.

Speaking on Wontumi TV on Monday, October 3, Chairman Wontumi said he is ready to make the document available.

“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work.”

“I have a large scale company which Akonta mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available[sic],” he added.
Mr Wontumi thus rejected accusations that he is involved in galamsey.
“I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey,” he insisted.

The Lands Ministry and Natural Resources Ministry on Friday, September 30 directed mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest.

The Ministry said even though Akonta Mining Limited has a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, “the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve”.
According to the statement, the sector minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has therefore directed the Forestry Ministry to, “forthwith, ensure that the company does not carry out any operation in the Forest and to take the necessary action against any person found culpable in this matter”.

“Our records show that Akonta Mining Ltd, on August 25, 2022, applied for a Mining Lease to undertake mining operations in the said Forest Reserve. By a Ministerial Directive, all reconnaissance, prospecting and/or exploratory activities in Forest Reserves in the country are suspended, except in exceptional circumstances.

“Although this directive does not affect mining in Forest Reserves, Akonta Mining Limited’s application has not been determined. Accordingly, any alleged activity being undertaken by the company in the Forest Reserve is illegal”, the statement further disclosed.
This was after two persons sustained gunshot wounds at Samreboi in the Western Region after a section of the youth reportedly prevented personnel of Akonta Mining Limited from sending more mining equipment into the Tano Nimri Forest reserve.

Source: myjoyonline

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