Corruption Trials and Galamsey Crackdown Intensify as Ghana Grapples with Accountability and Political Tensions

30th April•3 min read•27 sources

Ghana’s political and legal landscape is currently dominated by a series of high-profile corruption trials and an intensifying national debate on the scourge of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. From the High Court in Accra to the mining pits of the Ashanti Region, state institutions are under pressure to demonstrate accountability while facing stinging accusations of political persecution from opposition quarters. These developments highlight a period of heightened scrutiny for both former and current public officials as the government attempts to balance law enforcement with the protection of constitutional rights.

In the legal arena, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has sparked controversy with the arrest of Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the former CEO of GIHOC Distilleries, over alleged financial irregularities. Although granted a GH¢65 million bail, Jumah remains in custody as his legal team struggles to meet the steep conditions. The Minority in Parliament has condemned the arrest as a tactical move to silence opposition and destabilize the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Simultaneously, the trial of former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director Kwabena Adu-Boahene has entered a critical phase, with witness Mildred Donkor testifying that she facilitated transfers of GH¢49 million intended for cybersecurity software under direct orders from the accused. In a separate development, the High Court struck out witness statements in the case against former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) CEO Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, citing procedural failures by the prosecution.

The fight against illegal mining has also reached the courtroom, with a former manager of Akonta Mining testifying that Chairman Wontumi personally instructed the company to operate in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve despite a lack of permits. This testimony coincides with a surge in enforcement actions, including the arrest of a Church of Pentecost elder, David Bobie Peter, for illegal operations along the Kume River, and the remanding of 10 miners caught operating under high-tension poles in Obuasi. However, these enforcement efforts are being marred by allegations of corruption; small-scale miners in Manso Kaniago recently protested against "fake" security operatives who allegedly use the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) name to extort money and seize equipment.

Faced with the persistent threat of environmental degradation, retired military officers Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe and Joseph Nunoo Mensah have urged President John Dramani Mahama to appoint a general with martial law powers to eradicate galamsey, arguing that current civilian measures have failed. The National House of Chiefs has similarly called for a unified national commitment to environmental stewardship. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is embroiled in a defamation battle, as Lightwave eHealthcare Solutions secured a court order for substituted service against Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh following his public allegations of financial fraud against the company. These converging crises of legal accountability and environmental protection are set to define the political discourse as the nation seeks more robust frameworks for governance and justice.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Corruption Trials and Galamsey Crackdown Intensify as Ghana Grapples with Accountability and Political Tensions

More from politics

Global Governance in Flux: From Military Accountability to Groundbreaking Shifts in Political Representation

Keta MP Demands Urgent Flood Relief While National Leaders Drive Infrastructure, Agricultural, and Social Reforms

President Mahama Champions National Resilience and Welfare Reforms for Senior Citizens

Ghanaian Leaders and Legal Experts Propose Sweeping Institutional Reforms to Strengthen Democracy and Public Accountability