The Convener of Media Coalition Against Galamsey, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey has said people should be made to face the consequences of the law if they breach it irrespective of the positions they occupy.

Mr. Ken Ashigbey was reacting to President Akufo-Addo’s assertion that Akonta Mining Company Limited is not involved in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana currently.

The President during the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association held in Koforidua on Wednesday said, “Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak.”

President Akufo-Addo was responding to a question by Mr. Ashigbey, who chaired the event, with regards to Akonta Mining Company Limited’s mining activity in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western North Region.

But Mr. Ashigbey maintained that it is important to arrest those involved in the act to face the law no matter their positions in the country.

“...Our concern is that Ghana, which is currently in terms of water supply, is at the vulnerable stage and slipping into a disturbed stage. It was important that when people fall foul of the law, it does not matter who is involved in it, we make sure that the person faces the full rigorous of the law. Examples are people like Aisha Huang and Akonta Mining.”

“People who are involved in these illegal activities, when they are found out, should be actually prosecuted and punished,” he said on Joy FM’s NewsNight on Wednesday.

Dr. Ashigbey further stated that they have sent a new petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remind him to investigate the alleged involvement of Akonta Mining in illegal mining.

Many groups and individuals have demanded punitive measures against the company and its owners, led by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwo-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, for alleged illegalities perpetrated by the company in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western North Region last year.

The Company was stopped from mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve in October 2022 by the Lands Ministry.

According to the Ministry, even though Akonta Mining Limited had a mining lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, outside the Forest Reserve, the company had no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

The Special Prosecutor is currently investigating the matter.