Amansie Central DCE Emmanuel Obeng-Agyemang Caught Up in New Galamsey Exposé, Accused of Extortion
- The Amansie Central DCE, Emmanuel Obeng-Agyemang, has been implicated in a galamsey extortion scandal
- Secret recordings captured in a Joy News exposé disclosed an extortion network operated by the local government
- There have been calls for Obeng-Agyemang's immediate dismissal following the documentary's revelations
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The Amansie Central District Chief Executive, Emmanuel Obeng-Agyemang, is the most high-profile appointee caught up in a new galamsey exposé.
Obeng-Agyemang was caught on camera playing a part in the system to extort money from illegal miners to allow them to continue their destruction of the environment.
Source: Facebook
The National Disaster Management Organisation in the district was also implicated by the reporting by Joy News.
The reporting featured in a documentary called "A Tax for Galamsey: The extortion racket fuelling illegal mining".
Through undercover reporting, secret recordings, documentary evidence and on-the-ground infiltration, the investigation outlined the extortion network involving the District Assembly and a task force operating under the authority of Obeng-Agyemang.
Illegal miners are reportedly charged GH₵6,000 per year to operate some machines used in illegal mining, like the Chang Fa.
The full documentary can be viewed below.
In response to the revelations, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, called for Agyemang's sacking.
“Certainly, this DCE doesn’t have to be in the office within the next 24 hours. You cannot say that you are allowing people to destroy the environment and then collecting money to restore the same environment under circumstances where the destruction itself is illegal."
“There are Minerals Commission offices, and the Minerals Commission is the entity supposed to regulate the mining sector, not district assemblies. So certainly, this is a matter that I expect that in the course of the day, this DCE must be relieved of his position."
Online, there have also been calls for Agyemang to be sacked over the exposé.
In comments to YEN.com.gh, Awula Serwah, a lawyer and coordinator of the Eco-conscious Citizens environmentalist group, said it was concerning that people were getting protection from the state for Galamsey.
“Illegal mining could be stopped if the political will is there and the reason that it continues is that the political will isn’t there.”
“My concern is that Ghanaians are not angry enough. I would have thought that after the airing of this documentary, there would be a lot of concern... we were told there was going to be a reset.
Galamsey kingpin arrested after attempted bribe
YEN.com.gh reported that the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat Taskforce operating in the Ahanta West Municipality arrested a so-galled kingping on January 31.
The task force is said to have rejected a GH¢20,000 bribe from the suspect, one Bright Mensah.
Source: Facebook
In a statement on Facebook, the Deputy CEO of the Forestry Commission noted that the task force raided several illegal mining sites within the Cape Three Points forest reserve.
It also burned several makeshift structures and illegal mining equipment seen at sites.
Source: YEN.com.gh
