The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately sanction the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Solomon Kusi Brako, over allegations that he is aiding and abetting illegal mining activities (galamsey) within the municipality a move they say undermines the government’s fight against the menace.
Addressing the media, the Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, alleged that the MCE had openly confessed to collecting fines from illegal miners, some of whom are said to be National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch executives in the Akim Oda area.
According to Mr. Shaib, certain miners reportedly paid up to GH₵15,000 each without official receipts or adherence to due financial procedures.
“The Minority Caucus in Parliament is appalled by the admission of the Municipal Chief Executive of Birim Central, Solomon Kusi Brako, that illegal miners were fined various amounts of money for their unlawful operations in Akim Oda and then allowed to continue mining,” he said.
He further alleged that after taking money from some of these miners, the MCE later instructed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAMOS) to burn their equipment an action that provoked anger among the affected miners, many of whom claim affiliation to the NDC.
“Some of these miners, who identify as NDC branch executives, have expressed outrage because the same MCE who took money from them later ordered NAMOS to destroy their machines,” he stated.
Mr. Shaib therefore urged President Mahama to step in and take control of the situation in the Akim Oda Municipality, insisting that the MCE’s actions contradict the government’s stated commitment to combating illegal mining.
“Our press conference today is to urge His Excellency the President to call this Municipal Chief Executive to order. If the President truly wants to end galamsey, the MCE’s conduct is completely at odds with that goal,” he emphasized.
