Deputy Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has revealed disturbing details about the spiritual and criminal networks surrounding illegal mining, locally called galamsey.
According to him, some powerful financiers compel young recruits to take blood covenants and spiritual vows, which prevent them from exposing their sponsors even under extreme pressure.
“There’s a whole lot of myth surrounding gold. It is a spirit, it grows, this and that. So when these kingpins employ these small boys into the whole enterprise, they make them take all manner of vows and blood covenants. Catch him, try to cut even his throat, he will not want to disclose,” Mr Kotoko explained on Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, October 4.
He added that these practices make it nearly impossible for investigators to trace the actual financiers behind galamsey. “One of the things we are doing now is monitoring some of them, so that we can finally trace who and where they actually engage in this enterprise. If we do not do these things, we will only be deceiving ourselves,” he noted.
Mr Kotoko, who spoke during discussions on President John Mahama’s recent meeting with civil society organisations on the galamsey menace, dismissed suggestions that the government’s renewed fight was politically targeting Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi). This follows Attorney-General Dominic Ayine’s announcement that Wontumi would face prosecution over his company, Akonta Mining’s, alleged involvement in illegal mining.
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“It is not targeting, but we live in this country, and one person who publicly always displayed wealth, displayed gold, etc., was Wontumi,” he stated.
Drawing from his own experience, Mr Kotoko recounted being part of field operations where illegal mining sites were uncovered. “I was part of the team that was moved to Samreboi on that day, and if you see what happened there,” he revealed.
As a parent, he expressed worry about the long-term effects of galamsey. “I am a father, I’m a parent. And when I see these things happen, I worry not even because of the people but because of myself and my family,” he said.
He also addressed debates over whether a state of emergency should be declared to fight galamsey. While acknowledging the President’s constitutional powers, he warned that bypassing due process could have serious legal consequences.
“You can take a decision as President to press this button, but when you leave office, you will be queried as to whether you took that action properly. Yes, the Constitution gives executive powers, but there are still standard protocols to go through before doing so,” he cautioned.
“If you do not go through those protocols, you will be found culpable under the law, even though you think you have executed a mandate given by the Constitution. So, whether acting on or against advice from the national security council, you must have very good reasons for your decision,” he added.
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