Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwaa, has criticised the Amansie Central District Assembly for dismissing allegations that it benefits from illegal mining, describing the Assembly’s response as “disappointing and dangerous” for Ghana’s fight against galamsey.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, she said the stance of local authorities in the wake of the JoyNews Hotline documentary reflects a lack of appreciation for the severity of the illegal mining crisis.

“The way we are treating this matter shows that we don’t appreciate the importance of this matter. This is a national issue. We are being poisoned…the Assembly is trying to justify it. I am quite disappointed because we should have acted swiftly,” she stated.

Her remarks follow the Amansie Central District Assembly’s February 9, 2026, statement refuting claims that it created a system to profit from illegal mining. The Assembly said media reports linking the district to a so-called “galamsey tax” were misleading and misrepresented a longstanding administrative practice of collecting revenue from operators of earth-moving equipment.

The Assembly insisted that such collections have spanned multiple administrations and were “being framed to suit a convenient political narrative.”

Awula Serwaa rejected this justification, arguing that the government cannot claim to be pursuing a national “reset” while illegality is condoned locally.

“You said we were coming to do a reset, now illegality is taking place and the Assembly is trying to justify it,” she said.

The Assembly’s response comes after the JoyNews Hotline exposé “A Tax for Galamsey: The extortion racket fuelling illegal mining” uncovered what it described as a “pay-to-destroy syndicate” operating in the district. According to the investigation, illegal miners reportedly pay GH₵6,000 annually to operate banned changfang machines with the tacit approval of local authorities.

Awula Serwaa expressed concern that authorities have yet to act decisively. “I am quite disappointed because we should have dealt swiftly with this matter. He should not be at post,” she said, referring to the Amansie Central District Chief Executive.

She further warned that the case may not be isolated, urging law enforcement to expand investigations beyond one district.

“Let’s be clear, he is not the only DCE involved in this kind of activity. They should all be rounded up, arrested, prosecuted, so that we see that indeed there is a reset going on,” she stressed.