Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah to ensure that investigations into Akonta Mining Company culminate in prosecution.
“We urge the Minister to go the full distance and ensure that these investigations result in legal action,” Kpebu stated.
While commending the minister for the bold decision to revoke Akonta Mining’s lease, Kpebu emphasized that accountability must not end there.
“We hope this marks the end of impunity in illegal mining. Armah Kofi Buah deserves credit for taking this decisive step—but prosecutions must follow,” he said. “If action is taken against Chairman Wontumi, it will send a strong signal to others who feel they are above the law.”
Last Friday, Minister Armah-Kofi Buah revealed that although Akonta Mining held a license to operate in off-reserve areas, it had been engaged in illegal mining within protected forest zones in the Western North Region. He described the company’s activities as part of a broader criminal operation—illegally selling access to forest reserves and unlawfully collecting gold royalties.
A recent security operation led to the arrest of 51 individuals, including eight Chinese nationals, and the seizure of excavators, vehicles, and other mining equipment.
Kpebu suggested these developments were only possible due to a change in government, questioning whether former President Akufo-Addo would have taken similar steps.
“Would Chairman Wontumi’s license have been revoked under Akufo-Addo? He was shielding Akonta Mining,” Kpebu asserted.
He concluded by urging the Minister and law enforcement agencies to pursue the matter diligently and bring those involved in illegal mining to justice.
