Manso Galamsey Clash: Kojo Preko Dankwa Demands Minerals Development Fund Accountability

Tensions flared in Manso, a suburb in the Ashanti Region, when residents and suspected illegal miners accosted members of the anti-galamsey task force during an operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities. The incident, which highlights the growing resistance to enforcement efforts, has sparked fresh debate around the accountability and effectiveness of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF).

Astute broadcaster and host of Kessben F.M. and TV flagship program KESSBEN MAAKYE, Kojo Preko Dankwa, has raised serious concerns over how MDF resources are being utilised, questioning why communities deeply affected by illegal mining continue to suffer from underdevelopment, unemployment, poor engagement, and weak environmental protections, despite the fund’s existence.

According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation between the task force and the aggrieved group quickly escalated, with residents accusing authorities of selective enforcement and neglect of local concerns. Some claimed they had turned to illegal mining out of economic desperation due to a lack of alternative livelihood programs.

In light of this, Kojo Preko Dankwaa who doubles as the President of Ghana’s most vibrant creative arts advocacy group, Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP) is demanding transparency and accountability in how the Minerals Development Fund is disbursed, stressing that communities like Manso — which suffer the direct impact of mining should not be left in poverty and environmental decay. “What is the Minerals Development Fund being used for, if not to protect and develop these mining-affected communities?” he questioned.

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