The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region, Ing. Hamidu Abdallah, has rejected allegations linking him to illegal mining activities in the district, describing the claims as false and an attempt to tarnish his reputation.
The denial follows accusations by a group of Assembly Members who claim that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is taking place in several communities and that the DCE is allegedly colluding with miners operating in the area.
The Assembly Members, led by Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor, the Assembly Member for Akokofe, have accused the DCE of failing to adequately address illegal mining activities that they say have affected farmlands and water bodies.
They alleged that galamsey activities were ongoing in communities including Beposo, Yaase, Adwafo, Amakom and Konkoma.
According to Nana Nyansapor, the DCE had previously denied the existence of illegal mining in the district, but a subsequent operation by a regional task force reportedly resulted in the seizure of five excavators.
The Assembly Members have threatened to petition President John Dramani Mahama and initiate a vote of no confidence against the DCE.
DCE denies involvement in illegal mining
Ing. Abdallah has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that he has never participated in either legal or illegal mining.
“I have never been involved in any form of mining, be it legal or illegal, in my entire life, let alone illegal mining.”
He said he does not own a mining concession or excavators and has no involvement in galamsey activities anywhere in the Bosomtwe District.
The DCE also rejected claims that his administration attempted to conceal illegal mining activities.
Instead, he said the Assembly has been actively involved in efforts to protect the district’s environment, particularly areas around Lake Bosomtwe, which forms part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
DCE says he led operation against miners
Ing. Abdallah pointed to a recent operation that resulted in the seizure of five excavators and the dismantling of pumping machines as evidence of his administration’s efforts to tackle illegal mining.
According to him, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the District Security Council (DISEC).
He said the intervention followed reports of illegal mining activities around the Lake Bosomtwe area.
The DCE explained that he personally visited the affected locations to assess the situation before writing to the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Minerals Commission.
He said his request included a review of mining licences within the Lake Bosomtwe enclave and the deployment of a task force to deal with illegal mining activities.
Ing. Abdallah questioned how he could be accused of owning excavators that were seized during an operation he helped lead.
“How can I be the one leading the operation to seize excavators and at the same time be accused of owning those same excavators?”
DCE disputes claims Assembly was kept uninformed
The Bosomtwe DCE also rejected claims that the Assembly was excluded from discussions surrounding the operation.
He said the Assembly was duly informed and that the Presiding Member and other key stakeholders participated in engagements following the intervention.
He therefore described suggestions that the Assembly had been kept in the dark as inaccurate.
Legal action threatened over allegations
Ing. Abdallah said he has instructed his lawyers to begin legal proceedings against Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor over the allegations.
He said the lawsuit would seek to compel the Assembly Member to provide evidence supporting his claims that the DCE is involved in illegal mining.
The DCE said he would not allow allegations of galamsey involvement against him to go unanswered.
DCE cites political tensions
Ing. Abdallah attributed the accusations to what he described as internal political disagreements within the district.
He alleged that some Assembly Members had been frustrated after attempts to secure mining-related favours in the district were blocked.
He did not provide further details of the alleged requests or identify the specific individuals involved.
The Assembly Members’ allegations and the DCE’s response have not yet been tested in court.
Commitment to fighting galamsey
Despite the dispute, Ing. Abdallah reaffirmed his commitment to supporting efforts to combat illegal mining and protect the district’s natural resources.
He said the protection of farmlands and water bodies, particularly Lake Bosomtwe, remains a priority for his administration.
The controversy is now likely to shift to the threatened petition and possible legal proceedings, which could provide an avenue for the competing claims to be formally examined.
