By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, May 25, GNA – The Kofreze Construction and Engineering Limited, a mining firm, says illegal miners have forcefully taken over its legally acquired small-scale mining concession at Dadieso in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality of the Western Region.
Mr Frederick Korankye, Co-Director of the company, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the mining site was acquired through the appropriate regulatory processes in 2024, granting them the authority to undertake mining activities on the concession.
He said the company mobilised to site in 2025 where it started operations, but suspended activities later due to some financial and other operational challenges.
He, however, said: “About three months ago, we had an information that illegal miners have taken over the concession because they think we were not active on the site, so we went there and saw them actively mining with excavators and bulldozers.”
Mr Korankye noted that the activities of the illegal miners were damaging their assets on the site, causing more financial burden on the company.
He said the issue had been reported to both the Wassa Amenfi East Municipal, and Western Regional Police Commands for action, however, no concrete steps had been taken so far to stop the galamseyers and protect their assets on the concession.
He added that several petitions and official complaints had also been lodged at key state institutions like the Minerals Commission, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and National Security Secretariat to intervene, but had proved futile.
“Our cry is for the security agencies to protect our assets from the galamseyers so we have written to Lands Commission, Minerals Commission, and others telling them that we cannot be held liable to anything on the concession,” Mr Korankye added.
He expressed concern that the inability of the security agencies to enforce mining laws and protect legally acquired concessions from illegal miners could erode investor confidence in the country’s mining and minerals sector.
He, therefore, called on the appropriate state institutions to act swiftly and drive the illegal miners away from their concession, and protect their assets to ensure the rule of law prevailed.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson