The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Atiwa East in the Eastern Region, Ernest Ntim, has clarified that the ongoing legal dispute involving him is not related to illegal mining, but rather a land litigation that predates his assumption of office.

Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk, Mr. Ntim explained that the matter centres on a disputed parcel of land at Asamandanfo, a case he said began two years ago, long before he was appointed DCE.

“I want to put it on record that the case at hand is not about illegal mining or mining. If it were, then it would have been State versus Ernest Ntim. The underlying issue has to do with a land litigation which started two years ago, before I even came into office,” he stated.

Mr. Ntim said his actions were motivated by concerns over what he described as the unfair treatment of local landowners and farmers.

“I felt the people were being maltreated by this gentleman who claimed that the state had sold portions of the Asamandanfo land to him and that he could enter the land with an excavator to mine without compensating the landowners and farmers. I saw that as an injustice,” he added.

The Atiwa East DCE stressed that he has no involvement whatsoever in illegal mining activities, reiterating that the dispute is strictly a land litigation matter.

Background

The injunction application sought to restrain the DCE and other persons from entering the land, which is the subject of a substantive suit pending before the court. It further barred them from grading or removing soil, digging pits or ditches, engaging in any form of mining activity, or dealing with the land in any manner whatsoever.

Despite the matter being sub judice, the applicant alleges that the DCE, his brothers, and another person—described in the application as illegal miners within the Atiwa East District—re-entered the land and continued galamsey operations.

Court documents state that on May 2, 2025, one of the DCE’s brothers was confronted at the site and reportedly claimed that “his brother (now DCE) had been nominated for the position of DCE for Atiwa East, and on his confirmation, no one, not even the courts, could interfere with their activities, and further that even judges will become the subordinates of the DCE.”

The affidavit in support of the application argues that the conduct of the DCE and the other respondents was willful and deliberate, constituting contempt of court and an interference with the administration of justice intended to undermine the authority of the court.

According to the applicant, a complaint was lodged with the Eastern South Regional Police Command at Kyebi on May 2, 2025, while the matter was still pending before the court. The police subsequently effected arrests at the galamsey site.

The application further alleges that after the arrests, the DCE confronted the applicant, stating that those arrested were his workers and warning that if the complaint was not withdrawn and he was later confirmed as DCE, he would change the ownership of the land and claim it as his own.

The applicant also alleges that the DCE confirmed his brother’s assertion that “even the judges would become his subordinates” upon his confirmation and advised the applicant to allow him to mine quietly.

After several adjournments, the court delivered its ruling on Monday, December 15, finding the DCE in contempt and imposing a fine of GH₵12,000.

The substantive land and mining case remains pending before the court, with hearings expected to continue.