Former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has defended the operations of Akonta Mining Limited, insisting that the company acted as a whistleblower against illegal mining activities in parts of the Western North Region.
According to the former minister, claims linking Akonta Mining to illegal mining operations are misleading and fail to reflect the company’s role in exposing unauthorised miners who had allegedly invaded portions of its concession.
Mr. Darko-Mensah stated that Akonta Mining had repeatedly alerted authorities about the activities of illegal miners operating within its legally acquired concession areas.
“Akonta Mining rather acted as a whistleblower against illegal miners,” he stressed.
The former minister explained that the company had on several occasions lodged complaints with security agencies and relevant state institutions over encroachment by illegal miners, commonly referred to as galamsey operators.
He argued that despite those reports, some critics continued to portray the company unfairly as being directly involved in illegal mining activities.
Akonta Mining, a company reportedly linked to Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has faced public scrutiny in recent years over allegations relating to mining activities in protected areas.
However, Mr. Darko-Mensah maintained that the company held legitimate mining concessions and should not be blamed for the activities of unauthorised persons who allegedly invaded portions of its operational areas.
“When illegal miners invade your concession, and you report them to the authorities, how then do you become the criminal?” he questioned.
He further called for fairness in the public discourse surrounding illegal mining, urging authorities to distinguish between licensed operators and illegal miners who exploit concessions without authorisation.
The former minister also stressed the need for stronger enforcement by regulatory agencies and security services to prevent illegal miners from infiltrating licensed concessions and degrading the environment.
