The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has referred a petition alleging corruption and extortion against the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central in the Eastern Region, Solomon Kusi Brako, to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for further action.
The petition, filed by Kingsley Darkwah Efah, concerns the alleged unlawful collection of money from illegal miners, popularly known as galamsey operators, within the municipality.
In a letter dated May 29, 2026, addressed to the Special Prosecutor, CHRAJ indicated that its preliminary assessment suggested that the complaint involved suspected corruption-related offences, including extortion and causing financial loss to the state.
The Commission subsequently forwarded the petition and its accompanying documents to the OSP, explaining that the allegations fell within the anti-corruption agency’s mandate.
The referral, however, does not constitute a determination that the MCE committed any offence. The allegations remain subject to investigation and must be established through the appropriate legal processes.
According to the May 29 letter signed by CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal, the Commission received the complaint from Mr Darkwah Efah on April 21, 2026.
The petition sought an investigation into suspected corruption and related offences arising from the alleged unlawful collection of money from galamsey operators in the Birim Central Municipality.
Following an initial assessment, CHRAJ stated that the complaint raised concerns about suspected extortion, corruption and causing financial loss to the state.
The Commission also pointed to the possible need for action to freeze and recover properties, a matter it considered relevant to the OSP’s mandate.
It therefore referred the petition and its annexures to the Special Prosecutor for the necessary action.
The referral establishes that CHRAJ formally transmitted the complaint to the OSP. However, the available correspondence does not confirm whether the office has commenced a formal investigation or taken any action against the MCE.
In a subsequent letter dated July 22, 2026, CHRAJ formally notified Mr Darkwah Efah that his complaint had been referred to the OSP.
The Commission reiterated that the petition concerned suspected corruption-related offences, including extortion and causing financial loss to the state.
It also directed the complainant to contact the OSP for updates on the matter.
The two letters provide documentary confirmation that CHRAJ referred the petition to the anti-corruption office and subsequently informed the complainant of that decision.
The current status of the complaint at the OSP, however, remains unclear from the available documents.
The petition comes amid allegations by the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, who has accused Mr Brako of facilitating illegal mining activities and allegedly extorting money from operators in the constituency over a period of nearly a year.
Mr Acquah has raised concerns about the alleged activities and called for the matter to be addressed through the appropriate investigative and legal institutions.
The allegations have brought renewed attention to the fight against illegal mining in the area, where concerns over galamsey have broader implications for environmental protection, public accountability and the enforcement of mining regulations.
Illegal mining poses significant environmental challenges in Ghana, including the pollution of rivers and other water bodies, the destruction of forest reserves and the degradation of farmland.
If substantiated, the allegations against the MCE could raise serious questions about the conduct of public officials and the enforcement of laws intended to combat illegal mining.
However, the claims have not been established as fact, and any determination of wrongdoing must be based on evidence gathered through a fair and independent investigation.
The issue has also triggered a public dispute between Mr Acquah and the MCE, with the disagreement reportedly extending to the invocation of curses and continued insults and personal attacks on social media.
According to the account of the dispute, Mr Brako has performed rituals to invoke curses against the MP and has repeatedly used insulting and abusive language against him in response to his public comments on the alleged galamsey activities.
The latest reported incident followed Mr Acquah’s participation in an engagement with the Christian Council of Ghana, where he accompanied Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and other members of the Minority Caucus.
During the engagement, Mr Acquah was reportedly invited to make a presentation on the galamsey menace in Ghana.
In addressing the issue, he highlighted the situation in the Akim Oda constituency, which he described as having become a hub for illegal mining.
He also reportedly drew the gathering’s attention to the petition concerning the MCE and informed participants that CHRAJ had referred the complaint to the OSP.
According to the account of the incident, the MP’s participation in the engagement was followed by further alleged insults and personal attacks from the MCE on social media.
Mr Acquah has reportedly challenged the MCE to pursue legal action if he considers the allegations false or believes they have damaged his reputation.
The MP’s position is that the matter should be addressed through established legal and investigative procedures rather than personal attacks.
The referral to the OSP provides an avenue for the allegations to be assessed by the relevant authorities, which can determine whether the available evidence warrants further investigation or prosecution.
The public disagreement between the two officials also underscores the need to distinguish political disputes from allegations of criminal conduct, which must be assessed on the basis of evidence and due process.
While public officials are entitled to respond to accusations against them, the substance of the complaint remains a matter for the appropriate institutions to examine.
With CHRAJ having referred the petition, attention now turns to the Office of the Special Prosecutor and any action it may take.
The central questions concern whether money was unlawfully collected from galamsey operators, whether any public official was involved, and whether the alleged conduct amounts to a criminal offence.
An investigation would be required to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged payments, identify any individuals involved and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support criminal charges.
For residents of Birim Central and the wider Akim Oda area, the matter raises concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to combat illegal mining and ensure accountability in public office.
The formal referral marks an important procedural development in the handling of the complaint, but it does not resolve the underlying allegations.
Until the OSP provides further information or the outcome of an investigation becomes known, the claims against the MCE remain unproven.
The next significant development will be whether the OSP takes further action and what its findings, if any, establish about the alleged collection of money from illegal miners in the municipality.
By 1960news.com
