I am not part of any galamsey taskforce – Joseph Yamin

The National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin, says he has not  engaged in illegal mining activities.

“My attention has been drawn to a press release from the concern of small-scale miners in which they claim myself and the National Vice Chairman, Abanga, are behind what they claim illegal taskforce visiting their sites. I want to put on record I have no hand in the said allegations being leveled at me,” he wrote.

His post, which was made two days ago, has become relevant considering a directive issued by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest him and Yakubu Abanga for their involvement in illegal mining activities.

In the letter dated July 15, Dr Ayine wrote, “I write to direct your esteemed office to initiate investigations into suspected illegal mining activities being perpetrated by certain individuals within mining districts in the country.

“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.”

“As Your Office is aware, H.E. the President has consistently reiterated his government’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,” the Attorney General stated.

However, Mr Yamin denies engaging in illegal mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’.

“For the records I am not part of any galamsey taskforce, neither have I been invited to even share ideas as to how to fight these illegal mining activities of some of these small-scale miners. If there’s any taskforce parading round with my name, the said group is operating illegally and must be resisted from their operations.

“The work of the taskforce is strictly enforced by the state security and not party directives. For the records, I am not a miner neither do I do mining nor own a concession. If anyone is impersonating me that person or group of persons must be resisted or arrested. I urge the small scale miners to leave me out of their issues and approach the right authorities in finding a lasting solution to their problems. For the records again I am not involved in any such operations,” he stressed.