The Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, has directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to commence investigations into specific individuals for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, also known as “galamsey.”
The persons under investigation include the Mr Yakubu Abanga and Joseph Yamin, both members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Yamin is a National Organiser of the party, while Abanga is the third Vice Chairman of the NDC.
These were contained in a July 15, 2025 letter signed by the Attorney-General to EOCO.
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“This directive is borne out of growing public concern, corroborated by media reports and intelligence, regarding the involvement of some citizens in unauthorized mining operations (generally called galamsey) that are in blatant contravention of the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995,” it said.
EOCO is further directed to invite the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission to assist with investigation.
According to the letter, the current actions are influenced President Mahama’s “firm commitment to eradicating illegal mining and restoring sanity to the natural resource governance regime in Ghana.”
“In line with this national stance, and pursuant to your mandate under the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804), I am directing your Office to invite the following persons named in recent credible reports for interrogation namely, Mr. Yakubu Abanga and Mr. Joseph Yamin.”
Some analyts believe that by going after members of their own party, the government may be showing its serious on fighting galamsey.
On Tuesday during his Thank you tour in the Western North Region, President Mahama stated that galasey has become a national emergency, urging authorities to arrest and prosecute any individuals involved the activity.