The Archives, has uncovered a well-coordinated effort by certain individuals, with the connivance of some media practitioners, to scuttle the ongoing fight against illegal mining by labeling the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah and National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) as corrupt or compromised.
The internally orchestrated plot, which is aimed at ensuring the anti-illegal mining taskforce is dissolved, was activated after the taskforce, raided some notorious galamsey sites in Western and Ashanti regions linked to some powerful individuals.
This paper is informed that, but for the tragic helicopter crash that forced the entire country into mourning, couple with the impending by-election at Akwatia, those behind the plan, would have been firing from all cylinders by now to embarrass the government and get the taskforce dissolved.
But even before the plan could be executed, a group calling itself the Extraction Accountability Project (TEAP) with a strong political backing, has filed a petition at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), demanding an investigation into what it claimed, “alleged corruption, bribery and complicity in illegal mining operation” by NAIMOS team.
Ironically, the group led by its President Kwadwo Yeboah, is also demanding the interdiction of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the dissolution of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat, over an alleged galamsey excavator scandal.
Excerpts from the three-page petition received at EOCO on August 22, 2025 and sighted by The Archives, reads, “We respectfully call upon EOCO to launch and an urgent investigation into the following individuals and entities, whose actions and inactions have been linked to the forceful arrest of military officers performing guarding duties at Simpa Junction where 43 mining machines were parked and the release of these machines”.
Among individuals and entities listed in the petition includes; Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah (Minister for Lands and Natural Resources), Colonel Dominic Buah – (Leader of NAIMOS), W.O. Richard Asante – (member of NAIMOS who supervises the release of machines), Lt. Col. Domme Owusu – (2BN), Brigadier General Musah Wajah (rtd) – Security Liaison Officer, Western Region), Lt. Col. Philip Tetteh Nartey (CO 2BN), Charles Yawo Azalikor and NAIMOS itself.
Even though the group did not make available any evidence, it claims that, “several whistleblowers and community witnesses allege that substantial sums of money exchanged hands among military and political actors to ensure the release of the excavators and the protection of the Chinese operators.
According to the group, 41 excavators seized in Tarkwa, were released under questionable circumstances with the authority of security personnel who claimed they acted under legitimate orders.
The Group indicated that, a report in its possession has accused Lands and Natural Resources Minister and his brother, Col Buah, of orchestrating a scheme to release the seized excavators to illegal miners, while branding the deployed officers as “rogue” to shield powerful interests.
They alleged that, the team deployed by the minister, which have released the seized excavators have allegedly collected a whopping $2 Million from the Chinese nationals for the release of each excavator, whilst Ghanaian nationals willing to retrieve their excavators were made to pay an amount of GH₵100,000. 00.
However, insiders have told The Archives, that these allegations are nothing more than a calculated attempt to undermine the fight against illegal mining, following the firm and uncompromising stance adopted by both the Lands Minister and the NAIMOS taskforce to tackle the menace, irrespective of political interference.
