The Evelue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency Chairman of the ruling Party National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Emmaunuel Annor-Kwofie, is embroiled in galamsey activities just a month after taking office.
He is accused of collaborating with his Chinese counterparts, who are already on the verge of destroying the Ankobra River’s banks as well as sections of the Gwira enclave’s virgin forest.
According to some traditional leaders, opinion leaders, and party members, his actions contradict President John Dramani Mahama’s campaign promise to protect water bodies and forest reserves.
Chairman Annor-Kwofie, as he is generally called, is also engaging in illegal activity in support of his wife, Mrs Augustina Tebua-Kwofie, who is currently vying for the position of Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nzema East.
As part of their focus on engaging in the Galamsey Act, the chairman is also utilising his wife’s aspirations to prolong the lethal act by assuring most of his business competitors that if his wife becomes the MCE, their operations will be entrenched.
He is known to have launched his operations in localities such as Akango, Amgbasie, Duale, Awulezu, and Kukwaville, all of which are located in the Gwira and Ajomoro enclave of Nzema East Municipal in the Western Region.
Several stakeholders have expressed deep concern about Mr Annor-Kwofie’s notorious behaviour, which started immediately after the NDC won the 2024 December general elections and declared authority over all opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) galamsey sites as unwarranted and unpatriotic since December 15, 2024, and rejected His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s dictates.
According to the management of Adamus Mining Resources, a company that operates in the Nzema enclave, namely Ellembelle District, Mr Annor-Kwofie’s actions are damaging to their operations, necessitating immediate government intervention.
The company, in a petition dated Wednesday, February 12, 2025, with reference number ARL/MLNR/REQ/01_120225, requested that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Emmanuel Kofi-Armah Buah, intervene by ensuring that all illegal mining activities spearheaded by Mr Annor-Kwofie and his counterparts be halted to help save the water bodies, particularly the Ankobra River.
In the letter, Adamus Mines expressed concern over illegal mining activities on its concessions at the Nzema Gold Project, which are characterised by Mr Annor-Kwofie’s unauthorised operations.
Adamus Mines further stated that the ongoing galamsey actions at Akango North are negatively impacting its operations despite several attempts to cease them due to the sophistication of the armed men who are guarding Mr Annor-Kwofie’s employees. On Monday, February 10,
2025, the company stated that it had also petitioned the Western Regional Police Commander of the Ghana Police Service to intervene and put an end to Mr Annor-Kwofie’s illegal acts, but that due to his strong political connections, no results were obtained.
Meanwhile, some party supporters have condemned Mr Annor-Kwofie’s actions for displaying gross disrespect to the President and the party that he leads in the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency, and have called on the party’s leadership at both the regional and national levels to disqualify his wife from the MCE race, claiming that her appointment as the MCE for Nzema East will spell disaster for the party’s fortunes in dealing with the galamsey menace.
They also urged the party’s leadership to implement measures to punish Mr Annor-Kwofie and dissuade others from engaging in similar conduct.
Attached are official letters signed by Adamus Resources Nzema Gold Operations General Manager to the Regional Police Commander and copied to all regional and national stakeholders, as well as the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, as well as photos and videos of all chairman Annor-Kwofie’s galamsey sites.