Kpebu goes after CID boss over Wontumi, Akonta mining case
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has criticised the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for the seeming lack of progress in investigating mining activities by Akonta Mining, owned by the Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Wontumi.
In a letter addressed to the CID boss, COP Faustina Andoh Kwofie, dated February 24, 2025, Kpebu expressed concern that the CID has yet to provide updates on the progress of the investigations, as requested in their petition.
He further stated that attempts to reach the CID boss for subsequent updates on the case have been unsuccessful, describing the situation as an unwarranted delay in addressing the matter.
"RE: PETITION FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF AKONTA MINING AND CHAIRMAN WONTUMI (MR BENARD ANTWI BOSIAKO) & OTHERS FOR UNDERTAKING ILLEGAL MINING IN THE TANO NIMIRI FOREST RESERVE CONTRARY TO THE MINERALS AND MINING ACT, 2006 (ACT 703) AS AMENDED BY THE MINERALS AND MINING (AMENDMENT ACT) ACT, 2019 (ACT 995).
"We are two (2) of four (4) complainants who petitioned your good self on 13th October 2022 on the above matter. Since filing the petition, we have not received much update on the progress of investigations, etc., except for a meeting sometime in 2023. Our subsequent efforts at getting further updates (including a letter we wrote you in 2024) have not succeeded," the letter stated.
He has therefore demanded an immediate response from COP Andoh Kwofie regarding the progress of the matter, requesting details on the actions her office has taken and the findings of their investigations so far.
"It is our firm belief that this case appears to be unnecessarily stalling. We urge you to kindly update us on it at your earliest convenience,' it added.
The petition filed by the legal expert and three other private members in 2022 called for an investigation and prosecution of Akonta Mining Company, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, and other individuals for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.
Kpebu's petition argues that the company's actions have violated and breached the laws outlined in the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act, Act 2019 (Act 995).
The four individuals stated that they were petitioning the CID to address the issue of illegal mining (galamsey), which they argued is not only a criminal activity but also responsible for the destruction of parts of Ghana's forest cover, the pollution of water bodies, and the posing of significant health and environmental risks to Ghanaians.
Their petition asserts that, contrary to Akonta Mining's claims of not engaging in illegal mining within the forest reserve, there is clear evidence of such activities, thus justifying the request for the company to be thoroughly investigated.
The four persons are the Founder of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr Ken Ashigbey, a legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, the Co-chairman of the Citizens Movement Against Corruption, Edem Senanu, and a fellow of the Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Kwame Asiedu.
MAG/EK
Meanwhile, watch as Nana Akomea, Kwesi Pratt clash on radio over public sector dismissals
Watch the latest episode of The Lowdown featuring NPP MP Patrick Yaw Boamah