General News
‘Impunity Is Not Over’ — CAGG Raises Fresh Alarm Over Illegal Mining
The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (CAGG) has dismissed the government’s claim that the “era of impunity is over” in the fight against illegal mining, arguing that widespread galamsey activities across several parts of the country prove that lawlessness remains deeply entrenched.
In a statement issued in Accra on Monday, July 20, the coalition acknowledged what it described as notable progress by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources but maintained that enforcement efforts remain inconsistent and inadequate to effectively protect Ghana’s forests, rivers and mining communities.
According to CAGG, the success of the anti-galamsey campaign will not be measured by official announcements but by sustained, impartial enforcement against offenders, regardless of their political or financial influence.
“Ghana’s forests, rivers and mining communities are not protected by press briefings. They are protected by sustained, fearless and uniform enforcement, applied equally in every region, against every excavator, and irrespective of whose interests stand in the way,” the coalition stated.
Achimota Forest Decision Praised
The coalition commended the government for revoking Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, as amended by E.I. 234, which had removed portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve from protected status. It described the Cabinet’s decision as a significant step toward preserving one of Accra’s most important ecological assets.
CAGG also welcomed the Attorney-General’s decision to withdraw charges against the “Atronsu Five” and urged both the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure justice for 13-year-old Pious Nketia Nkansah, who was allegedly murdered.
Forest Reserves Still Under Siege
Despite ongoing operations to remove illegal miners from forest reserve “red zones,” the coalition warned that several protected areas remain under serious threat.
It identified the Atewa Range Forest Reserve, Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, Afao Hills Forest Reserve and the Draw River Forest Reserve as hotspots where illegal mining continues to pose a major environmental risk.
To strengthen conservation efforts, CAGG called for increased funding for the Forestry Commission, the establishment of permanent security camps within forest reserves and renewed efforts to fulfil government’s pledge to upgrade Atewa Forest into a national park.
Illegal Mining Continues Across Regions
Rejecting the Ministry’s assertion that impunity has ended, the coalition pointed to continued illegal mining activities in the Eastern, Ashanti, Bono and Western regions.
According to CAGG, illegal mining remains active around the Birim, Densu and Ayensu river basins, near the Bui Hydroelectric Dam, around Lake Bosomtwe and within the Ahwiren wetlands.
The group also questioned what it described as selective enforcement and urged President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that all individuals implicated in illegal mining offences are investigated and prosecuted without fear or favour.
Questions Raised Over NAIMOS
CAGG further expressed concern about the operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Although it acknowledged the secretariat’s reported record of conducting more than 200 operations, the coalition said allegations of selective enforcement and claims that seized excavators had been returned to offenders after payments deserve immediate investigation.
It urged NAIMOS to publicly respond to the allegations and improve transparency by publishing details of its complaint-handling procedures and enforcement outcomes.
Police and Local Authorities Urged to Do More
The coalition also criticised what it described as weak enforcement by sections of the Ghana Police Service, arguing that deploying additional Blue Water Guards alone would not solve the galamsey problem unless intelligence gathered from the field results in swift arrests and prosecutions.
It called for tighter supervision of police commanders in mining districts, disciplinary action against officers who fail to enforce the law, stricter regulation of excavator movements and tighter controls over fuel supplies to illegal mining operators.
Coalition Calls for Stronger Reforms
While welcoming government’s plans to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), CAGG insisted that the revised legislation must provide stronger protection for forests, water bodies and mining communities.
The coalition also called for the publication of the Constitutional Review Committee’s report, the prosecution of alleged galamsey kingpins, greater transparency in environmental governance and the regular release of reports on water quality, forest conditions and prosecutions.
CAGG reaffirmed its willingness to work with the government to strengthen environmental protection but cautioned that failure to decisively tackle illegal mining could have devastating long-term consequences for the country.
“We either deal with this menace or we perish, because without clean water, clean air and standing forests, we are done as a people,” the statement concluded.








General News
“I Stood by You in 2013, I’ll Stand by You Again” – Joseph Osei-Owusu Brenya Backs Chairman Wontumi
The National Communications Director of the Hopeful New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joseph Osei-Oppong Brenya, has reaffirmed his support for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, amid the latter’s ongoing legal challenges.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Brenya reflected on his long-standing relationship with Chairman Wontumi, recalling that he publicly defended him in 2013 when, according to him, doing so was unpopular.
“In 2013, I stood by you when it was not fashionable to do so. I exposed the then John Dramani Mahama’s evil plans against you and your businesses. Here they are again but they will fail this one too,” he wrote.
Brenya asserted that despite occasional disagreements with Wontumi over internal NPP politics, his loyalty to the Ashanti Regional Chairman remains unwavering.
“We may differ a bit in NPP politics but loyalty goes beyond these. This is not the time to leave you behind. I am with you and we will not allow evil to triumph.”
He ended his message with a statement that has since attracted attention on social media.
“May God forgive them, because we won’t.”
The Facebook post comes amid ongoing public and political discussions surrounding Chairman Wontumi’s legal battle, with several NPP figures rallying behind the Ashanti Regional Chairman and criticizing what they describe as political persecution.
General News
Minority Accuses Government of Selective Justice in Akonta Case, Demands Equal Treatment Under the Law
The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has accused the government of practicing selective justice following the High Court’s judgment in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei argued that state institutions appear to act more swiftly and aggressively when members of the political opposition are involved.
“The Minority Caucus has taken note of the judgment delivered by the High Court in the case of The Republic v. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Limited,” she stated.
According to Hon. Appiagyei, the matter extends beyond the prosecution of one individual and raises broader concerns about the fairness of Ghana’s justice system. She stressed that democracy can only thrive when citizens, particularly those on the losing side of political contests, have confidence that the law is applied consistently and impartially.
She maintained that if the government is genuinely committed to ending selective justice, it must demonstrate the same determination in prosecuting members of its own political ranks.
“When the law is applied only when convenient, then no citizen’s rights are secure, regardless of political affiliation. Public confidence in institutions that should outlive any administration is weakened,” she said.
The Minority also issued four key demands in response to the court’s ruling:
- Attorney-General: Publish the government’s enforcement record on illegal mining cases involving individuals across the political divide to prove that the law is being enforced without bias.
- Court of Appeal: Carefully examine issues raised in the case, including the alleged denial of legal counsel, the refusal to make a constitutional referral, and matters relating to bail, with what the Minority described as “equal and unflinching scrutiny.”
- Judiciary: Clarify and reaffirm the legal threshold for constitutional referrals, taking into account the Supreme Court’s decision in the Zenator case.
- The Ghanaian Public: Demand the same standards of justice that, according to the Minority, cleared Tsatsu Tsikata’s name in 2006 be applied consistently in current cases.
Hon. Appiagyei concluded by emphasizing that justice must not only be carried out but must also be visibly fair and applied equally to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
General News
Mahama hosts AU extraordinary summit on universal health coverage and ending AIDS
President John Dramani Mahama is hosting the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Accra from July 21 to 22, 2026, aimed at advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening Africa’s response to major public health challenges.
The summit, themed “Advancing Justice, Equity and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, TB, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases and Conditions in Africa,” will bring together African Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for health, finance and foreign affairs, officials of the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, civil society organisations, youth representatives and private sector stakeholders.
According to the Presidency, the two-day meeting will focus on strengthening Africa’s health systems and accelerating the continent’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
The summit opens on July 21 with a Member State Experts Meeting, where senior officials from the Ministries of Health, Finance and Economic Planning will develop technical recommendations for consideration by ministers and Heads of State.
On July 22, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government will deliberate on and adopt key decisions, including a declaration aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Union Roadmap to 2030.
The Presidency said Ghana’s hosting of the summit reflects President Mahama’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery and his administration’s efforts to expand access to quality health services.
Key initiatives highlighted include the rollout of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to essential healthcare, and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, to support Universal Health Coverage.
The government also pointed to ongoing investments in health infrastructure, workforce development, emergency preparedness and local pharmaceutical manufacturing as measures that align with the objectives of the summit.
A major side event will feature a Call to Action on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Survival, led by the African Union Champion for Maternal and Child Health, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, in partnership with the Accra Reset initiative.
The Government of Ghana has welcomed all participating Heads of State, delegates and stakeholders, reaffirming its commitment to working with the African Union and member states to advance health equity and Universal Health Coverage across Africa.
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