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 illegal mining operations in the area.
At a press briefing, Second Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib claimed that the MCE had publicly admitted to collecting fines from illegal miners, some of whom are reportedly National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch executives in Akim Oda.
He further alleged that some miners paid up to GHC15,000 without receiving official receipts or following standard financial procedures.
“The Minority Caucus in Parliament is scandalised by the admission of the Municipal Chief Executive of the Birim Central Municipality, Solomon Kusi Brako, that illegal miners were fined various sums of money for mining illegally in the Akim Oda area and were then allowed to continue their activities,” Mr. Shaib stated.
According to him, the MCE later instructed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAMOS) to destroy equipment belonging to some of the same miners he had previously fined — a move that sparked public outrage.
“This occurred after some of these illegal miners, who describe themselves as NDC branch executives, complained because the same MCE who collected money from them directed NAMOS to their site to burn their equipment. We are urging the President to take charge of activities in the Akim Oda municipality,” he added.
Mr. Shaib emphasized that the MCE’s actions contradict the government’s stated commitment to combating galamsey.
“Today, we are calling on His Excellency, the President, to hold this Municipal Chief Executive accountable. If the President genuinely intends to fight galamsey, the MCE is acting contrary to that vision,” he stressed.
Source: adomonline.com
