Private legal practitioner Kwesi Botchway Jnr, Esq., has formally petitioned the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for an update on investigations into alleged illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, which were previously referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
In a letter dated Wednesday, December 17, 2025, addressed to the Attorney-General, Mr. Botchway “respectfully” requested clarification on the status of the investigations, citing strong public interest and the severe national impact of illegal mining.
The request follows a directive issued by the Attorney-General on July 15, 2025, instructing EOCO to commence investigations into suspected illegal mining activities in several mining districts across the country. The directive specifically ordered EOCO to “invite the following persons named in recent credible reports for interrogation, namely; Mr. Yakubu Abanga and Mr. Joseph Yamin,” alongside matters arising from the Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng Report.
Referring to EOCO’s statutory mandate, Mr. Botchway noted that the directive was issued under the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), forming part of the government’s broader commitment to tackling illegal mining.
In his letter, the lawyer requested clarification on three key matters: the current progress of the investigations, any interim findings EOCO has submitted to the Attorney-General’s Office, and the expected timelines for completion.
He grounded his request in the Attorney-General’s public justification for the investigations, quoting from the July directive that the action was “borne out of growing public concern, corroborated by media reports and intelligence, regarding the involvement of some citizens in unauthorized mining operations (generally called galamsey) that are in blatant contravention of the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.”
Mr. Botchway emphasized that illegal mining “not only flouts our mining regulations but also gravely endangers our water bodies, forest reserves, and local livelihoods,” highlighting the environmental and socio-economic consequences of galamsey.
The petitioner stated that the request is made “in good faith and in the interest of transparency, public accountability, and strengthening public confidence in the national fight against illegal mining.”
He appealed for an official response “at your earliest convenience” and expressed gratitude to the Attorney-General for his “continued service to the Republic.”
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