Government promises crackdown on officials implicated in galamsey tax exposé

Government has pledged decisive action against any public officials implicated in an alleged illegal mining taxation scheme uncovered in a JoyNews Hotline investigative documentary.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says no individual will be shielded if evidence confirms wrongdoing, stressing that accountability will be applied regardless of status or political affiliation.

“Once evidence of wrongdoing comes to light, you’d be taken up. It doesn’t matter who is involved. Whilst there’s evidence of wrongdoing, the law will take its course,” he said in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday.

The assurance follows revelations in the documentary, which alleges the authorisation and collection of illegal mining-related taxes in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu cited the ongoing prosecution of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as evidence that the government is committed to allowing the law to take its course in galamsey-related cases.

He added that the President has made it clear that any confirmed wrongdoing will be met with appropriate legal action.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has called for the immediate removal of the Amansie Central District Chief Executive following the documentary’s findings.

The JoyNews Hotline investigation, titled “A Tax for Galamsey: The extortion racket fuelling illegal mining,” alleges that illegal mining operations in the district are not only being tolerated but systematically taxed, receipted and protected.

According to the report, undercover footage, secret recordings and documentary evidence point to the existence of an alleged extortion network involving the District Assembly and a taskforce operating under the authority of the District Chief Executive.

The government says it will study the findings and pursue legal action where necessary as part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal mining and restore accountability in the sector.