The Akyempemhene of Suhum, Barima Amoako Darko, has been hauled before an Accra High Court for his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities, known popularly as galamsey.
According to a CID report presented to the Court, On May 21, 2021, a letter of referral from Ghana Military Police was received from the Commanding Officer Military Police Headquarters through Director General CID together with suspect Yang Maoji, a Chinese National to be investigated for operating illegal mining at Subin in the Central Region.
The report noted that Nana Ohene Fianko, as the Akyempemhene is known in private life, was dragged along with a Chinese national, one Yang Maoji, who was the main suspect in the said galamsey case.
Ohene Fianko and Maoji were both detained in 2021 after investigations found that they were engaging in illegal mining at Subin Akwabosu in the Central Region, according to the report.
The report submitted in August 2022 and signed by C/Supt. Ebenezer Nketia of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Ghana Police Service, said several inquiries were made up until June 1, 2021, following the completion of phase II of their operation, named “operation halt II,” which resulted in the arrest of Mr. Fianko to aid in inquiries.
The report disclosed that on May 25, 2021, when the police were conducting their operations at the mining site, they discovered a security guard named Hakeem Wagah, who exposed Nana Fianko to be the owner of the concession, resulting in his arrest.
According to the report, Nana Fianko said in a statement after his arrest, that he is the CEO of Excess Investment Ventures Limited, which holds several mining concessions in SubinAkwabosu in Central Region, and that the Minerals Commission had awarded him five mining licenses.
Denial
It said Nana Fianko, though gave the police the documentation of all of his concessions to back up his assertions, denied ever knowing or working with a Chinese national by name of Yang Maoji.
C/Supt. Nketia added in the report that in getting to the finality of the issue, police extended investigations to agencies including the Ghana Immigration Service, the Registrar General’s Department, and the Minerals Commission.
“However, it came out that the total area which was alleged to be mined out by the suspect Yang Maoji fell within the Prospecting License for Adansi Gold Company Ghana Limited,” the report stated.
It added that “as per the records at the Minerals Commission, the fieldwork and composite maps, it was found that the areas alleged to be mined out do not fall within any of the three (3) licenses granted to Excess Investment Ventures Ltd.”
It said that on August 31, 2021, a duplicate case docket was prepared and forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for study and advice as the suspects Yang Maoji and OheneFianko were arraigned before the court.
