Notorious galamsey don busted… Chiefs accused of bringing him to brutalise indigenes

Illegal mining, popularly known as “Galamsey,” seems to have gained firm roots in the Ahafo area of Brong-Ahafo Region, particularly in the Asutifi District, with the active involvement and support of traditional authorities who hire “Macho men” to protect their concessions.

It is also alleged that some politicians and the security agencies within the district, are also into the illegal mining business, which has made it very difficult fighting it.

This notwithstanding, Galamsey operations in the Asutifi District have taken a deadly approach, with the invasion of some groups of Macho men, alleged brought from Konongo in the Ashanti Region, by the Nkaseim traditional leaders.

These macho men serve as landguards for the chiefs to protect their mine pits, but beyond their responsibilities, these hired mercenaries have resorted to intimidating, harassing and brutalising the local people also engaged in the illegal activities.

They have been traumatising people in the area by seizing their goods and the least protest, they inflict injuries on them, with some people having their fingers being chopped off and others fractured limbs from clubbing.

Though Galamsey is illegal, the operators have the courage to report to the police about the brutalities encountered by the so-called macho men, yet no arrests are made.

The Minister of Lands and Forestry, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, upon several complaints from some of his constituents, stormed the place, “Agya Kyerekrom” near Nkaseim, with a combined force of the police and military personnel, because a widow, Madam Akua Korankye, who built the cottage with her late husband, decided to fled the place due to the brutalities meted on her children by the macho men hired by the chiefs of Nkaseim.

During the operation by the combined police military force, 14 members of the notorious 'mercenaries' were arrested, including their 26 year old ring-leader, Muntala Mohamed, who according to the people, had promised the chiefs of Nkaseim, a brand new V8 vehicle each.

Madam Akua Korankye, interacting with the Alhaji Collins Dauda and his entourage, accused the chiefs of bringing in the military some few weeks ago to brutalise she and her family, after the death of the husband six months ago.

According to the widow, the chiefs' action stems from a complaint she made about the destruction of her cocoa farm by the Galamsey operators, which her sons attempted to prevent.

In a quick reaction from the Nkaseim Traditional Council, Nana Sarfo Kantanka, Twafoahene of the area, admitted bringing the military to the place, but not to brutalise anybody.

Nana Sarfo Kantanka admitted that Galamsey was illegal, saying that since the traditional council owns the land, they had the right to benefit from whatever their ancestors bestowed on them, so the traditional council would do whatever it could to protect the property, that was why the military was brought in.

The chiefs denied the allegation that they brought in Muntala Mohamed from Konongo to harassed the local people who were into Galamsey, so that they shared whatever booty they get.

Muntala Mohamed, in an interview with this reporter, expressed surprise at the denial of the chiefs, claiming that he arrived at the place that morning, after he had a call from the chiefs that there was going to be a meeting, so when he saw the Minister's entourage approaching he thought the chiefs were coming, so he decided not to flee.

However, Alhaji Collins Dauda stated that though the traditional authorities were custodians of the lands, they had no right or whatsoever to issue mining rights to anybody, so the Nkaseim Traditional Council should desist from the act.

He ordered that all Galamsey operators should vacate the area before proper measures are instituted with negotiations and consultation with Newmont Ghana Gold, who now owns the concession, to allocate a portion to licensed small scale mining operators.

According to him, the government had already committed itself by giving the concession to Newmont, so there was no way the government could take back the land without consultations with the company.

Alhaji Collins Dauda insisted that investigations must be conducted into the issue of the alleged military brutalities claim by the widow and the other people.

Some of the machines and equipment used for the operations were seized by the police, after the Minister ordered them to do so. Muntala, when caught, was wearing a vest decorated with some items believed to be charms, with some at the waist, and rings on all his fingers and toes, but the military took them of, and burnt them.

Other accomplices include Mike Manu 39, Abdulai Rahman 29, Yaw Frank 30, Fiifi Agyaku 32, Abubakari Saddique 30, Tahiru Mohammed 35, Joseph Kofie 24, Dickson Karikari 15, Yaw Ali 25, Alfred Yaw 24, Ibrahim Ahmed 23 and Joseph Akrohua, who the police say, escaped.