Akonta Mining Company Limited, a firm with a government-issued lease to mine outside protected areas, is now at the center of a major scandal involving illegal mining operations within Ghana’s forest reserves. The company, believed to be exploiting its legitimate permit, is accused of masterminding a complex, illegal mining scheme in protected forest zones, including the Aboi and Tano Nimiri reserves in the Western North Region.
While Akonta Mining has legal rights to mine off-reserve areas, investigations have revealed a blatant violation of Ghana’s forest protection laws. The company does not possess an entry permit for operations in some areas of the Western North, yet evidence shows Akonta Mining has been mining within protected zones.
According to Minister Buah, the company has illegally expanded its operations into restricted areas, encroaching on Compartments 49 and 121 of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. These illegal activities are not isolated or accidental. Investigative teams have uncovered a deeply rooted criminal network allegedly led by Akonta Mining representatives who negotiate access to forest lands and sublease the concessions for profit.
Criminal Syndicate Allegedly Facilitated by Akonta Mining
The illegal enterprise reportedly functions through a well-organized system involving the sale of forest land access for as much as GHS 300,000 per concession. The lands are then handed over to individuals identified as Mr. Henry and Shaq, who oversee operations that have devastated the Aboi Forest Reserve and heavily polluted the River Tano.
Sources say these illegal miners operate under the protection of Akonta Mining and are required to pay weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold to the company. This arrangement has created a steady flow of illicit wealth not only for Akonta Mining but also for collaborators embedded within key regulatory institutions.
Investigators report that part of the proceeds from the GHS 300,000 concession fee is funneled to forestry officers and security personnel, who in return provide protection and advanced warnings of potential raids. This has weakened enforcement and allowed illegal mining to flourish unchecked.
National Reaction and Ongoing Investigations
The revelations have sparked outrage, as Akonta Mining’s actions are seen as a gross abuse of its lease privileges and a significant threat to Ghana’s forest reserves. Environmental watchdogs and anti-galamsey advocates are demanding immediate legal action and full accountability for all parties involved.
Although the Minerals Commission has previously clarified that Akonta Mining does not have the right to operate within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, the scale and organization of the operation now coming to light indicate systemic failure and corruption across multiple levels of enforcement.
In earlier statements, President Nana Akufo-Addo stated that “Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak,” a comment that has since been challenged by the latest findings.
Calls for a comprehensive probe into Akonta Mining’s activities and the alleged involvement of state officials have grown louder. Civil society organizations, including environmental groups, are urging the government to take swift action to dismantle the network and reinforce Ghana’s commitment to environmental conservation.
