A group of Assembly Members in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region has accused the District Chief Executive (DCE), Ing. Hamidu Abdallah, of involvement in illegal mining activities.
According to the Assembly Members, the activities have destroyed farmlands and water bodies in some communities, depriving families of their livelihoods.
“The DCE, Hamidu, is colluding with illegal miners to degrade our environment. Right now, illegal mining is ongoing in some communities,” alleged Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor, Assembly Member for Akokofe and leader of the petitioners.
Communities affected by illegal mining, according to the group, include Beposo, Yaase, Adwafo, Amakom and Konkoma.
The spokesperson for the aggrieved Assembly Members, Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor, alleged that the DCE benefits financially from the illegal activities.
They claimed that the DCE had consistently denied the existence of illegal mining in the district until a regional task force stormed the area and seized five excavators.
The Assembly Members have subsequently threatened to petition President John Dramani Mahama and pass a vote of no confidence to remove him from office.
DCE denies allegations
The District Chief Executive for Bosomtwe, Ing. Hamidu Abdallah, has vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as false, baseless and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and create disaffection between him and the government.
“I have never been involved in any form of mining, be it legal or illegal, in my entire life, let alone illegal mining. I have no concession, no excavator, and no hand in galamsey anywhere in Bosomtwe,” he stated.
Reacting to the accusations, Ing. Abdallah said it was untrue that he had ever denied the existence of illegal mining in the district.
According to him, his administration has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal mining, especially around the buffer zones of Lake Bosomtwe, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
He explained that the recent crackdown that led to the seizure of five excavators and the dismantling of pumping machines was initiated under his leadership in collaboration with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the District Security Council (DISEC).
“How can I be the one leading the operation to seize excavators and at the same time be accused of owning those same excavators? The logic does not hold,” he questioned.
The DCE noted that upon receiving reports of illegal mining near Lake Bosomtwe, he personally led a team to the site and subsequently wrote officially to the Regional Minister and the Minerals Commission to block all mining licences within the enclave and deploy a task force.
“The Assembly was duly informed. The Presiding Member and key stakeholders were part of engagements after the operation. So to say the Assembly was kept in the dark is factually incorrect,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ing. Abdallah has threatened to instruct his legal team to file a defamation lawsuit against the leader of the petitioners, Nana Akwasi Asare Nyansapor.
“As for the allegations of illegal mining levelled against me, I will never forgive them. I have instructed my lawyer to file a lawsuit against the accuser to compel him to provide evidence of my involvement in such activities before the court,” he stated.
Ing. Abdallah attributed the accusations to internal politics and what he described as the frustration of some Assembly Members whose attempts to secure mining favours in the district were blocked.
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Mahama’s agenda to end illegal mining and protect the environment, water bodies and farmlands in the Bosomtwe District.
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