The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda and former Deputy Minister for Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has responded publicly to the traditional ritual and curses reportedly performed against him by the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Solomon Brako Kusi, insisting that his allegations of illegal mining against the MCE were backed by evidence and not fabricated.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Friday July 31, following the circulation of videos showing the MCE performing traditional rites at the banks of the River Birem, the MP questioned why the MCE chose to invoke traditional deities instead of seeking legal redress if he believed he had been defamed.
“We all know that ever since I started raising concerns that the MCE has been facilitating galamsey operations in Akyem Oda, it has been close to about one year,” Mr. Acquah said.
He argued that the absence of any official response from the government had compelled him to continue drawing the attention of civil society organisations, the media and relevant authorities to investigate the allegations.
“The lack of responses from government is what has made me continuously call the attention of civil society organisations and the media to investigate the issues,” he stated.
The MP maintained that he had not made the allegations recklessly or without proof.
“I don’t know why this time around he has decided to go to the gods. The courts are there. I thought he should go to the courts if he feels I am maligning him. I have my evidence. I did not make the allegations out of vacuum,” he stressed.
According to Mr. Acquah, he has already submitted petitions to government and relevant ministers concerning the matter but is yet to receive any meaningful response.
“I have shown some of you some of the evidence. I have petitioned the government. I have petitioned the ministers involved. There hasn’t been any action,” he said.
The legislator further argued that anyone found facilitating illegal mining should face the full rigours of the law, noting that such offences could attract severe prison sentences.
“If somebody is facilitating illegal mining, that offence can lead to as much as 20 years imprisonment. I am saying now that government is covering its own,” he alleged.
Mr. Acquah said that if the MCE had decided to leave the matter to traditional deities, he had no objection but remained confident in his faith.
“If government is covering its own, and the MCE has decided to go to the gods, let the gods judge. But for me, I am a Christian,” he declared.
The MP citing Proverbs 26:2, saying the biblical passage reflected his position on the controversy.
“I will end with Proverbs 26:2. Anyone who reads it will know where I stand. For those who are concerned about the viral video calling on the gods to judge us, I don’t think our Constitution gives place to the gods in our system of justice. For someone who represents the government and the President, if this is the way to go, let it be,” he added.
Mr. Acquah’s response follows a dramatic incident earlier on Friday, during which the Birim Central MCE reportedly performed traditional rites at the banks of the River Birem, locally known as Asuo Bremu, in Akyem Oda.
During the ceremony, Hon. Solomon Brako Kusi allegedly poured libation and sacrificed a ram while invoking traditional sanctions against anyone falsely accusing him of involvement in illegal mining.
The MCE denied the MP’s allegations, describing them as false, politically motivated and intended to tarnish his reputation and influence President John Dramani Mahama to remove him from office.
He insisted that he had never engaged in or supported illegal mining activities and said his decision to resort to traditional rites stemmed from frustration over what he described as persistent attacks on his integrity.
The exchange has further heightened political tensions in Birim Central, where illegal mining remains a major public concern due to its impact on the River Birem and surrounding communities.
Neither the allegations made by the MP nor the MCE’s denials have been independently verified, and no findings from the relevant investigative authorities have been made public.
The dispute continues amid ongoing national efforts to combat illegal mining and protect Ghana’s forest reserves and water bodies.
By 1960news.com
