Akonta Mining Company has taken legal action against the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, the minerals commission, and the government to a large extent.
This comes after the government of Ghana on Monday, April 21, took a bold decision to ensure that Akonta Mining no longer mines despite having a legal license to engage in mining activities.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, speaking at a press conference on Monday, April 21, monitored by Ghanacelebrities.com disclosed that Akonta Mining has been engaging in illegal mining, widely known in the Ghanaian society as “Galamsey”.
“Although Akonta mining holds a license to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached on the Aboi Tano Namiri Forest Reserves in The Western North Region”, the minister said.
Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah claims Akonta mining, per his checks and findings, illegally sells concessions to illegal miners at a whooping amount of 300k Cedis.
“This company has not only trespassed into protected reserves but has become a criminal syndicate, selling access to the Aboi Forest Reserves to illegal miners for a staggering 300k Cedis per concession”, Emmanuel Armah Buah said.
Not only do they sell concessions to illegal miners, the minister added that “As part of the agreement between Akonta mining and the illegal miners, weekly royalties of 250 grams of gold are to be paid to the company, lining to pockets of Akonta’s collaborators”.
Reacting to this, Akonta Mining has stated emphatically that there is no iota of truth in the minister’s speech and other speculations, hence, Ghanaians should treat them with contempt.
They have therefore taken legal action against the government, demanding 20 million Ghana Cedis, a court order that coerces the minister to eat his words and render an unqualified apology, full reimbursement of legal costs and lawyers’ fees, and a perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory remarks.
