The Eco-Africa Network has launched a fierce offensive against corruption in the mining sector, demanding the immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie Central and other public officials implicated in a systemic extortion racket.
In a strongly worded press statement released on Monday, 9th February 2026, the network expressed “grave concern” over revelations that illegal mining (galamsey) is being systematically taxed, receipted, and protected by those appointed to stop it.
The demand follows a JoyNews investigative documentary, ‘A Tax for Galamsey’, which exposed how public authority is reportedly being used to facilitate environmental destruction rather than prevent it.
According to the network, the involvement of public officials elevates galamsey from a mere environmental crisis to a “national governance emergency”.
The environmental watchdog, led by Worship Joshua Frimpong, has outlined five critical actions the government must take to restore public trust and save Ghana’s dying ecosystems:
- Immediate Sacking and Prosecution: The DCE and all implicated officials must be removed and face legal action for allegedly profiting from illegal mining.
- Independent Investigation: A transparent probe into all individuals and institutions captured in the documentary, with findings made public.
- Strict Law Enforcement: Rigid application of existing mining and environmental laws without political interference or exemptions.
- Ecological Restoration: Immediate efforts to restore degraded lands and polluted water bodies, involving the affected local communities.
- Sustainable Alternatives: Targeted investment in youth-led, community-based livelihoods to provide real alternatives to illegal mining.
The Eco-Africa Network warned that the pollution of major river bodies and the degradation of farmlands are undermining the future of Ghana’s youth. The network argued that the environment cannot be sacrificed for the short-term gains of a few powerful individuals.
“Any indication that public authority may be facilitating or benefiting from this destruction elevates galamsey from an environmental crisis to a national governance emergency,” the statement noted.
The network has urged law enforcement agencies and oversight institutions to act decisively to end the systemic failures that enable galamsey to thrive. They further expressed their readiness to collaborate with the government to provide sustainable livelihoods that protect natural resources for a “just and sustainable future”.
This latest pressure adds to the growing storm surrounding the Amansie Central District Assembly, coming just days after Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie established a Specialised High Court Division specifically to handle crimes related to the Minerals and Mining Act and environmental degradation.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
