The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda and former Deputy Minister for Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has called for the full prosecution of individuals arrested for engaging in illegal mining in Akyem Oda, warning against what he described as the recurring practice of suspects being apprehended without facing justice.
The legislator made the remarks in an interview with the media following the recent arrest of three persons allegedly involved in illegal mining activities within the constituency.
According to Mr. Acquah, news of the arrests prompted him to dispatch members of his team to the mining site to assess the situation on the ground.
He said the extent of environmental destruction they encountered was deeply disturbing.
“I have always made it clear that I am committed to the fight against illegal mining. When I heard that some people had been arrested for mining without a permit, I sent my people to the site to ascertain the situation. Before God, when I saw the devastation, I was saddened,” he said.
While commending the police for apprehending the suspects, the MP expressed concern that previous arrests of illegal miners had failed to result in successful prosecutions, allowing offenders to evade justice.
He revealed that he is personally monitoring the ongoing case to ensure it is pursued to its logical conclusion.
“This is not the first time people engaged in illegal mining have been arrested, only for nothing to happen afterwards. This time, I am following the case keenly to the very end,” he stressed.
Mr. Acquah cited an incident in November last year in which three suspected illegal miners were arrested and their excavators and other mining equipment confiscated.
According to him, the seized equipment, which should have been preserved as evidence for prosecution, has reportedly gone missing under unclear circumstances.
The MP disclosed that he has formally petitioned the Divisional Police Commander, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and other relevant authorities, requesting updates on both the previous and current cases.
He said the objective is to promote transparency and assure the public that law enforcement agencies are genuinely committed to tackling illegal mining.
“I have officially petitioned the Divisional Commander, the IGP and the appropriate authorities seeking updates on the previous case and the current one so that Ghanaians will know the police are truly working,” he stated.
Mr. Acquah further argued that security agencies have at times appeared constrained in dealing decisively with illegal mining operations, adding that the current situation falls short of the expectations created by the government.
He referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s repeated commitments to combat illegal mining, noting that the President had previously attributed the persistence of the menace to political influence.
According to the Akyem Oda MP, the time has come to expose influential individuals allegedly sponsoring illegal mining activities.
“He said in plain words that it is politicians who are clandestinely masterminding the menace. It is about time we begin naming and shaming those behind illegal mining,” Mr. Acquah said.
The MP reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the environment and urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that all persons found culpable in the latest arrests are prosecuted in accordance with the law, stressing that only consistent enforcement and accountability will help curb the growing threat of illegal mining in the country.
Mr. Acquah, who also serves as the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, has consistently been one of the most outspoken critics of illegal mining activities, particularly within the Akyem Oda enclave.
He has repeatedly questioned the government’s inability to take decisive action against public officials alleged to be involved in illegal mining, arguing that prosecuting and sanctioning such individuals would serve as a strong deterrent in the fight against galamsey.
By 1960news.com
