The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has joined the controversy surrounding the ‘A Tax for Galamsey’ scandal, stating that the abrupt dismissal of the Amansie Central District Chief Executive (DCE) would be a breach of natural justice principles.
Dr Amoakohene stated during the JoyNews National Dialogue on Illegal Mining today, Thursday, February 12, 2026, that while the allegations are serious, the government should follow due process before taking final administrative action.
The minister’s remarks follow a bombshell JoyNews probe that exposed a pay-to-destroy ring in which the Amansie Central District Assembly supposedly took unlawful levies from illegal miners in order to allow them to work freely. In response to a formal complaint filed by JoyNews following the airing of the documentary, the presidency has established a special committee to investigate the extortion claims. Dr Amoakohene disclosed that this team is already on the ground, looking into the side of the accused officials to create a factual foundation for any possible sanctions.
“We are on a committee to listen to the side and delve into it so that we can present the facts and conclusions of the same. So probes are underway… Once the reports, documents, and recommendations are complete, the same will be communicated, according to the regional minister.
Innocent until proven guilty
Dr Amoakohene opposed increasing public requests for the quick suspension of the DCE and other guilty authorities. He claimed that the submission of charges, irrespective of the quality of the broadcast evidence, does not always result in dismissal under Ghanaian legislation. He underlined that the Accra Reset plan must be founded on the rule of law rather than vengeance in order to be effective.
“It’s not as if the individual is interdicted immediately after you file the petition. I don’t know if there are any laws in the nation that require… If we don’t pass legislation, we risk victimising individuals unfairly,” he said.
Institutional sabotage and state response.
The documentary ‘A Tax for Galamsey’ has become a litmus test for President John Dramani Mahama’s dedication to stopping unlawful mining. The report revealed how local authorities in the Ashanti Region allegedly charged miners up to GH¢12,000 for each excavator, a practice that undermines the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat’s (NAIMOS) efforts.
Dr. Amoakohene’s remarks indicate a more cautious approach at the regional level to ensure that the final report is legally secure. As the battle on galamsey reaches a new, politically sensitive point, the Ashanti Regional Minister urged the public to be patient, promising that any proven wrongdoing would be addressed forcefully.
Source:myjoyonline.com
