Fresh controversy has erupted in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region after the Branch Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Akyem Gyadem accused the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Solomon Kusi Brako, of allegedly extorting money from illegal small-scale miners in exchange for the release of seized excavators.
The allegations, contained in an audio recording intercepted by 1960news.com, have intensified public scrutiny over the municipality’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, and have deepened political tensions within the constituency.
The chairman, identified as Asare, openly admitted that he was involved in small-scale mining activities. However, he alleged that after excavators operating at a mining site were seized, the MCE allegedly demanded GH₵15,000 from each affected miner before the equipment was released.
According to Asare, the mining activities being undertaken by several NDC executives and party members were no secret to the municipal authorities, insisting that the MCE was fully aware of their operations long before the recent anti-galamsey exercise.
“All the executives are aware of our work, including the MCE. So if anyone says the MCE is not aware of our work and that is why NAIMOS are hounding and confiscating our machines, that is a palpable lie,” he claimed in the recording.
Alleged seizure before NAIMOS operation
Asare further alleged that before operatives from the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) arrived at the mining site, the MCE’s bodyguard had already led a team comprising soldiers and individuals he described as “Old Town boys” to confiscate excavator control boards and machine keys.
He claimed the confiscation was followed by demands for payment before the equipment could be returned.
“The MCE sent some soldiers and Old Town boys led by his bodyguard to our site. They removed the control boards and machine keys only to demand GH₵15,000 from each of us,” he alleged.
The NDC branch chairman questioned why only their mining site at Asuogya was targeted while several other illegal mining sites within the municipality allegedly remained untouched.
According to him, genuine anti-illegal mining operations are usually carried out without the involvement or prior knowledge of local political authorities, making the alleged participation of the MCE’s bodyguard highly suspicious.
“If it was truly a NAIMOS operation, why was the MCE’s bodyguard leading and directing them? What interest does he have? Is he now working with NAIMOS?” he asked.
Challenges MCE to deny allegations
Asare insisted he was prepared to defend his claims before any investigative body or media platform.
“If you think I am lying, let the MCE come out and deny my assertion. I dare him to challenge me. I will explain everything to the very end.”
He also warned that more revelations could emerge if attempts were made to silence party members.
“This discussion is only on our delegates’ platform. If we are pushed, we will tell the whole nation everything. The serious issues are yet to come.”
Claims of payment before equipment release
According to the NDC branch chairman, after the excavator parts and keys were seized, the affected miners initially visited the MCE’s office seeking intervention but were allegedly denied access.
He claimed they returned the following day and each paid GH₵15,000, after which their excavator parts and machine keys were released.
Asare said many of those affected were ordinary party supporters who had invested significant amounts of money into the mining venture.
“We are not rich people. We invested heavily in this mining venture. You expect us to keep quiet after treating us this way?” he lamented.
Admits illegal mining but defends operations
Although he acknowledged that their activities fall within what Ghanaian law considers illegal mining, Asare argued that their operations were environmentally responsible.
He maintained that the miners avoided contaminating nearby rivers by constructing their own dam for mining purposes and reclaiming mined-out lands after extraction.
“It is not that we support galamsey. We don’t destroy water bodies, and we reclaim the land after mining. We even created our own dam,” he asserted.
Additional allegations against GCD
Beyond his accusations against the MCE, Asare also alleged that Ghana Consolidated Diamonds Limited (GCD) demanded substantial sums of money and quantities of gold from miners operating on concessions allegedly allocated by the company.
He, however, did not provide documentary evidence to support the allegation.
The allegations come at a time of heightened political debate over illegal mining and the conduct of public officials involved in the government’s anti-galamsey campaign.
1960news.com has not independently verified the claims contained in the audio recording, and no official findings have been made regarding the allegations.
Efforts to reach the MCE
Efforts by 1960news.com to obtain a response from the Birim Central MCE, Solomon Kusi Brako, were unsuccessful.
Several telephone calls and text messages sent to him went unanswered before publication.
However, the MCE has recently attracted public attention following reports that he performed traditional rites along the banks of the River Birem, locally known as Asuo Bremu, in Akyem Oda.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Mr. Brako is seen pouring libation and sacrificing a ram while invoking traditional sanctions against anyone he said was falsely accusing him of involvement in illegal mining.
The ritual followed separate allegations reportedly made by the Member of Parliament for the area linking him to illegal mining activities.
Mr. Brako has categorically denied those accusations, describing them as false, politically motivated and aimed at damaging his reputation while influencing President John Dramani Mahama to remove him from office.
The MCE maintains that he has never participated in or supported illegal mining and says his decision to resort to traditional rites was born out of frustration over what he described as persistent attacks on his integrity.
By 1960news.com
