The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, has denied allegations linking him to illegal mining activities, describing the claims as false and based on an unauthenticated press release.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Mr Yamin said the document that triggered reports about his alleged involvement in galamsey was fake and could not be traced to any identifiable source.
“The letter and the press release are fake in the first place because the person who wrote the story is not traceable. That is where I have a problem with some media houses,” he said.
Mr Yamin explained that the person whose name and contact details appeared on the alleged press release had denied any connection to it.
“The number under the release, the person has come out to say that he has no affiliation with small-scale mining and that he lives in Accra. He also said he has no idea about that press release,” he stated.
He questioned how some media organisations verified the document before publishing reports that he was being investigated for illegal mining activities.
“Media houses that went ahead to do stories saying Yamin is being investigated for galamsey activities, how did they authenticate the press release that is public?” he asked.
Mr Yamin also questioned the basis for a letter from the Attorney General’s Office to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) requesting investigations into the allegations.
According to him, the request was based on media reports that originated from the disputed press release.
“The Attorney General took the media report and took it to EOCO to investigate. How did they authenticate the media report when I have proven that the press release is fake?” he questioned.
He added that the Small-Scale Miners Association has also distanced itself from the document, further raising doubts about its authenticity.
“The Small-Scale Association has come out to say that they know nothing about that press release,” he said.
Mr Yamin denied claims that he operates a parallel anti-galamsey task force, accusing some individuals of attempting to tarnish his reputation.
“The press release claimed that I have a parallel task force terrorising people, operating on mining sites and extorting money. That is not true,” he said.
He questioned whether reports linking him to galamsey investigations were fair, especially when, according to him, no government agency had formally invited him for questioning.
“Do you think the media houses doing the stories, including the NPP, that Yamin is being investigated for galamsey when government has not even called on me, equating me to Chairman Wontumi, are being fair to me?” he asked.
The comments come after the Minority in Parliament called on the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to publish updates on illegal mining investigations involving individuals across the political divide.
The Minority made the call following the conviction and sentencing of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra High Court over illegal mining-related offences.
The caucus specifically called for updates on investigations involving Mr Yamin and NDC National Vice Chairman, Yakubu Abanga, as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
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