The Herald, has picked up reports from the Tarkwa-Nsuaem that some members of the community are preparing themselves to furnish the Special Prosecutor with details of the Deputy Lands Minister, George Mireku Duker’s involvement in galamsey activities in the area where he doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP).
A company by name, Akoon Community Mining, has been linked to George Mireku Duker, who is said to have snatched it from another company by name TARSK Mining Limited, based in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
Akoon is said to have massively devastated the area under the watchful eyes of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Chief Executive, Benjamin Kessie.
Tarsk was owned by the Divisional Chief of Tarkwa and minerals commission took their license from them and George Mireku Duker took over and used two of his boys as leaders of the company and named it Akoon Community Mining.
Interestingly, a traditional ruler from the area, stepped forward alleging that the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, George Mireku Duker, and the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Chief Executive, Benjamin Kessie, are behind illegal mining in the area.
This is coming as a surprise to many, as Mireku Duker, has been at the forefront of galamsey fight, since he went to the ministry.
Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, the Dompim-Pepesa Chief, said he has incontrovertible evidence of their involvement in the activity in the area. The Herald, is informed that this evidence will soon be put before the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyabeng for investigation.
But the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker, has dismissed claims that he is involved in ‘galamsey’ activities.
Mr Duker, stressed that the allegation is aimed at distracting him from his duties as MP and Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
“I do not own a concession, I do not have a concession, I do not invest into any mining of any kind and I am not into mining. Let me make that clear and I have said that time and again that mining is not done in a hidden place, it is done in an open place.
The Chief in an interview on the Joy FM Super Morning Show, Monday dared them to sue him, if they believe he is damaging their reputation without proof.
According to Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, he has received several threats for his stance, but he is unfazed and promised to do whatever possible within his means to ensure the galamsey canker is stopped within his jurisdiction.
“I know not of any company but I know of the very people who are behind the operations of ‘galamsey’ in my area. First and foremost the Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah is involved.
The MP for the area, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Honorable George Mireku-Duker is also involved and the MCE, Benjamin Kessie is also involved. I have told you I am not going to disclose my arsenals to you.”
“They said they were going to sue, so let them sue. I’ll let out my arsenals at the right time,” he alleged.
When quizzed about how he feels about the effect of the canker within his jurisdiction, he said he is heartbroken.
“The situation keeps getting worse, and my heart is bleeding,” he stated.
But the MP in reaction said “You cannot just speculate if you know a concession owned by Mireku Duker everybody will testify, the community will testify…You know it is also a strategy to in a way distort your assignment, your focus and all that”.
The MP, also noted that he has no knowledge of any mining firm engaging in illegal activity in the area.
According to the MP, Nana Nyowah Panyin IV, who is a distant nephew of his, is aggrieved that he (Mireku Duker) did not support his bid to become a chief. The reason, he said, has caused the Chief to spread lies against him and the other accused persons.
“I have told you the background of the one making the allegation. He was the one who led the Independent candidate campaign in 2020 elections…he is my distant niece (sic) and he feels I did not support him in becoming a chief of my community and he has gone against me ever since,” the MP added.
Mr Duker, urged the public to disregard such accusations as they are untrue.
The Deputy Lands and Natural Resource Minister noted that he will further engage his lawyers for the Chief to be summoned to show proof of his involvement in galamsey.
The MCE for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, Benjamin Kesse, who was also accused by the Chief for engaging in ‘galamsey’ has denied the allegation. He said the accusations smack of malice.
“It is not true. Whatever he said is a lie, total lie…There is an issue here in Dompim and it is purely chieftaincy and he knows that we do not support his bid so he started this long ago about three years ago and he has been running around.
“Today, he knows that the President is very much particular about the fight against ‘galamsey’ so he feels that he is taking the opportunity to make this wild allegation so that he will get a hearing for what he is saying so that the President will call somebody and disappoint the person. I have documentation to the effect that he wrote to the President not to appoint me. He has done everything,” he told Emefa Apawu on the Midday News.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor started investigating suspected corruption and corruption-related offences related to illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.
The OSP, in a statement, said the investigation would target some officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission.
“It also targets the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal
Mining (IMCIM), especially in respect of the seizure and management of machinery, road excavators, vehicles, and gold nuggets.”
The Herald has picked up reports that a petition will be sent to the OSP on the activities of the Mireku and the others named by the chief.
