At a time when government has intensified efforts to sanitise the mining sector and crack down on illegal mining activities, former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Akamba, stands accused of leading some Chinese and men suspected to be soldiers to drive away Ghanaians at a mining Concession in the Western region.
While the legality of a contract termination remains the subject of ongoing proceedings before the Secondi High Court, following a suit filed by Long Shine Mining Ghana Limited, Akamba, over the weekend led some men in green to forcefully take over the mining concession for the Chinese.
It took the vigilance and intervention of the Western regional police to avert what could have been the bloodiest clash at the Bondae mining concession.
Insiders say they first attempted to seize the mining concession by the use of force.
When that failed, Akamba, last Saturday moved heaven and earth to alleged bamboozle the western regional police to go and take over the site. His last straw was to turn yo the MCE for the area for succour which also failed because of the ongoing litigation.
Mining sector observers argue that disputes involving concessions and ownership interests should be resolved through established legal processes rather than through actions that could be perceived as interference.
The allegations come at a time when the government has intensified efforts to sanitise the mining sector and crack down on illegal mining activities across the country.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) have in recent months undertaken several operations targeting illegal mining sites, including some linked to foreign nationals in the Western and Western North regions.
Legal experts note that once a dispute has been submitted to a competent court, parties are generally expected to avoid actions that could prejudice the outcome of the proceedings or create additional conflicts on the ground.
They stress that respect for judicial processes remains essential for maintaining stability in the mining industry and protecting both local and foreign investment.
The incident is also likely to renew debate over the role of political influence in the management of mining concessions, a subject that has featured prominently in public discussions about the governance of Ghana’s natural resources.
Previous disputes involving mining concessions and allegations of political involvement have attracted significant public attention and calls for greater transparency in the sector.
Stakeholders are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged raid and urging all parties to respect the judicial process until a final determination is made by the courts.
Meanwhile, as at the time of going to press yesterday, Joshua Akamba had not officially responded to the allegations.