The Concerned Citizens of Adansi have issued a scathing press release calling for immediate action against what they describe as “brazen and unlawful mining activities” taking place directly in front of the Obuasi East Municipal Assembly premises.
According to the group, a recent on-site investigation revealed active illegal mining operations involving heavy-duty machinery occurring within full view of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. William Kofi Adzowu. The group decried the development as not only a breach of environmental protection laws but a “direct affront to public trust and the sanctity of local governance.”
The group further alleges that the activities were neither discussed nor approved by the General Assembly, implying backdoor arrangements lacking transparency or public accountability. Even more disturbing are claims that the MCE, through Hon. Ibrahim Maaboah (Assembly Member for Akaporiso), distributed GHC1,000 each to several assembly members — including the Presiding Member, Hon. Alfred Fosu Donkor — to suppress dissent over the operation.
One assembly member, Hon. Samuel Aboagye of the Mampamhwe Electoral Area, was commended by the group for rejecting the money and publicly opposing the illegal mining operation. The statement described his conduct as an act of rare integrity.
Adding to the controversy is the alleged involvement of Mr. Moro Musah, NADMO Director and Chairman of the Assembly’s Finance and Administration Committee, who is accused of supervising the ongoing mining. The group views this dual role as a major conflict of interest.
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi also referenced a live interview granted by MCE Hon. Adzowu on Shaft FM’s “Mempɛsuasɔ” program on July 6, where he admitted knowledge of the mining and attempted to justify it as a revenue-generating initiative. The group described the MCE’s reasoning as “legally untenable and environmentally reckless.”
They further criticized the silence of the Presiding Member, Hon. Alfred Fosu Donkor, whose inaction they say signals a betrayal of public duty.
The group is demanding the following:
- A full forensic audit and public disclosure of all funds and resources from the mining activity.
- An independent investigation into the roles of all implicated officials.
- Immediate termination of the mining operations.
- Disciplinary action and possible prosecution of any guilty parties.
- An official statement from the Assembly detailing legal justification and financial accounts regarding the operation.
They are also appealing to the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Amoakohene, to intervene and halt the environmental degradation and restore public trust in the Assembly’s operations.
In closing, the Concerned Citizens stressed that their demands are not politically motivated but rather a civic responsibility to uphold constitutional values, environmental integrity, and transparent governance in the Adansi traditional area.
Contact:
AC Nature
President, Concerned Citizens of Adansi
📞 0240193766 / 0205680062
READ THE PRESS STATEMENT BELOW
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Sunday, 20th July 2025
Concerned Citizens of Adansi Demand Immediate Accountability from Obuasi East MCE Over Brazen and Unlawful Mining Activities
The Concerned Citizens of Adansi express our unequivocal indignation and deep consternation over the audacious illegal mining operations brazenly occurring directly in front of the Municipal Chief Executive’s office within the Obuasi East Municipal Assembly.
This is not a matter of speculation or mere allegation. Our leadership has conducted on-site verification, revealing active excavation involving earth-moving equipment and heavy-duty machinery. That such egregious environmental degradation is taking place under the very nose of the municipal authority mandated to uphold legality and protect communal resources is not only reprehensible, it is a direct affront to public trust and the sanctity of local governance.
Our independent fact-finding has revealed that these operations were never deliberated upon, sanctioned, nor ratified by the General Assembly in any official capacity. This glaring procedural lapse points to clandestine dealings executed without the requisite oversight or democratic legitimacy. It raises fundamental questions about accountability, administrative transparency, and the rule of law within the Assembly.
Disturbingly, credible reports indicate that the Municipal Chief Executive, Honorable William Kofi Adzowu, acting through Honorable Ibrahim Maaboah, Assembly Member for the Akaporiso Electoral Area, allegedly disbursed sums of one thousand Ghana cedis (GHC 1,000) each to a cohort of Assembly Members, including the Presiding Member, Honorable Alfred Fosu Donkor. These payments, we are reliably informed, were intended to suppress opposition and silence dissent. Should these allegations be substantiated, they would constitute a gross abuse of office and a serious violation of public ethics and accountability.
Notably, Honorable Samuel Aboagye, Assembly Member for the Mampamhwe Electoral Area, demonstrated rare integrity by unequivocally rejecting the one thousand Ghana cedis inducement. Our investigations confirm that he firmly disassociated himself from the actions of the MCE and expressed clear opposition to the unlawful mining activities. His moral courage stands in stark contrast to the prevailing atmosphere of complicity and inertia, and he deserves public commendation.
Equally troubling is the reported involvement of Mr. Moro Musah, Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Chairman of the Assembly’s Finance and Administration Committee, who is alleged to be overseeing the mining operations. This dual involvement represents a blatant conflict of interest and further erodes public confidence in the integrity of local governance.
In a live broadcast on Shaft FM’s Mempɛsuasɔ programme on Wednesday, 6th July, 2025, the MCE, Honorable William Kofi Adzowu, publicly acknowledged his awareness of the mining activity and attempted to justify it as a revenue mobilization initiative for the district. This justification is legally untenable and environmentally reckless. It contravenes established regulations governing mineral exploitation in Ghana and reveals an alarming disregard for lawful procedure and ecological preservation.
The continued silence of the Presiding Member, Honorable Alfred Fosu Donkor, whose responsibilities include convening Assembly sessions and ensuring accountability, is equally concerning. His failure to speak or act in the face of this scandal is a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the public interest.
In response to these deeply disturbing developments, the Concerned Citizens of Adansi hereby demand the following remedial actions without delay:
- A comprehensive forensic audit and immediate public disclosure of all funds, resources, and materials generated from the mining activities.
- An independent and impartial investigation into the actions and decisions of Honorable William Kofi Adzowu, Honorable Ibrahim Maaboah, Honorable Alfred Fosu Donkor, Honorable Samuel Aboagye, Mr. Moro Musah, and any other individuals directly or indirectly implicated.
- The immediate termination of all illegal mining operations within the premises and jurisdiction of the Assembly.
- The initiation of disciplinary proceedings and legal prosecution against any official found culpable, regardless of rank or affiliation.
- An official communique from the Obuasi East Municipal Assembly providing full legal justification, operational details, and clear accounting for any funds or resources derived from the aforementioned activities.
We additionally call upon His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Amoakohene, to take swift and decisive action to halt further environmental degradation, restore governance credibility, and reinforce the rule of law.
This matter is not political. It is a moral and constitutional imperative. Illegal mining continues to destroy our environment, corrode lawful governance, and erode public confidence in leadership. The Concerned Citizens of Adansi remain unwavering in our commitment to defend the public interest, uphold transparency, and demand justice for the people of Obuasi and the entire Adansi traditional area.
Signed
AC Nature
President
Concerned Citizens of Adansi
Obuasi, Ashanti Region
Contact 0240193766 / 0205680062