The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has announced plans to investigate allegations of extortion allegedly fuelling illegal mining activities in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region, following a recent JoyNews investigative documentary.
The JoyNews Hotline investigation, titled “A Tax for Galamsey: The Extortion Racket Fuelling Illegal Mining,” alleges the authorisation and collection of illegal mining-related taxes within the Amansie Central District.
According to the documentary, illegal mining activities in the area are not only being tolerated but are allegedly taxed, receipted, and protected through a network involving the District Assembly and a taskforce operating under the authority of the District Chief Executive.
The Ministry says the matter has been brought to the attention of the sector minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and steps are being taken to assess the claims.
In a Facebook post, the Ministry’s Media Relations Officer, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, said the government is treating the revelations with urgency.
“Yesterday, JoyNews aired an exposé on galamsey involving the Amansie Central District. The sector minister, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, has taken note of this development, and government will look into the allegations and take appropriate action,” the post said.
The Ministry did not immediately outline the scope of the investigation but assured the public that the issues raised in the documentary would be thoroughly examined.
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