The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) has called on the government to update the Ghanaian public on the status of investigations launched into the alleged galamsey activities involving two key members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a statement copied to selected media outlets, the policy think tank, through its Executive Director, Professor Isaac Boadi, demanded the release of the report following the directive to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the two leading figures of the ruling party.
“The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, in July this year, directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to launch a full-scale investigation into alleged illegal mining activities involving Joseph Yamin, the NDC’s National Organiser and Yakubu Abanga, the party’s National Vice Chairman,” he said.
“In a letter dated Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Dr Dominic Ayine instructed EOCO to invite the two individuals named in specific reports for interrogation over their suspected involvement in unauthorised mining operations, commonly referred to as galamsey,” he added.
According to Professor Boadi, the directive followed rising public concern, intelligence assessments and extensive media coverage of illegal mining, which continues to threaten Ghana’s water bodies, forest reserves and rural livelihoods.
“These activities, as the Attorney-General emphasised, not only flout Ghana’s mining regulations but also endanger the country’s water bodies, forest reserves and local livelihoods,” he stressed.
“It’s been almost four months and no report on the investigations has been made available for public scrutiny. The IERPP is therefore appealing to the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, to direct EOCO to make the report public,” Professor Boadi stated.
“Public confidence in the government’s fight against illegal mining will continue to erode if Ghanaians are not updated on the progress of such investigations. It is in the interest of the government to apprise citizens of the findings of the inquiry,” he added.
Professor Boadi, who also serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Finance at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), further appealed to the government to investigate all past allegations of illegal mining contained in Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s Committee report.
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