 executives Joseph Yamin and Yakubu Abanga over their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities.){kind=link}
The Convenor of the Anti-Galamsey Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the immediate arrest of National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives Joseph Yamin and Yakubu Abanga over their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities.
Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV, Dr. Ashigbey criticised the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for failing to act on a directive from the Attorney-General ordering an investigation into the two party leaders.
In a letter dated July 15, 2025, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, instructed EOCO to summon Yamin, the NDC’s National Organiser, and Abanga, the party’s National Vice Chairman, following reports linking them to unauthorised mining operations.
However, Dr. Ashigbey expressed frustration that no action has been taken weeks after the directive.
“The NDC’s National Organiser and National Vice Chairman have been named in reports, and the Attorney-General has ordered an investigation. Yet, EOCO has failed to take action. Just as they did with Chairman Wontumi of Akonta Mining, they should arrest Yamin and Abanga and carry out the necessary investigations,” he insisted.
He stressed that the fight against illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, would remain ineffective if political affiliations continued to shield individuals from accountability.
Dr. Ashigbey further called for the prosecution of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), after his recent arrest by EOCO in connection with Akonta Mining’s operations.
According to him, the credibility of Ghana’s anti-galamsey campaign depends on consistent enforcement of the law, regardless of political party or status.