The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is not responsible for investigating illegal mining (galamsey) operations, clarified the OSP’s Director for Strategy, Research, and Communications Samuel Darko. In an exclusive interview, he emphasized that the OSP’s mandate is focused on tackling corruption and corruption-related offenses, not environmental crimes like galamsey unless they involve corruption, such as bribery or improper licensing.
He stated that agencies like the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Ghana Police Service are tasked with enforcing laws related to illegal mining. However, the OSP would intervene if corruption related to galamsey is uncovered, such as bribery in the issuance of mining licenses. “The OSP investigates corruption tied to illegal mining, but not the act of mining itself,” Mr. Darko explained.
The OSP has been investigating corruption in the mining sector since 2022, targeting officials from the Ministry of Lands, the Forestry Commission, and the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). The investigations focus on the seizure and management of machinery and illegal licenses, with cases involving companies like Akonta Mining Limited and foreign nationals linked to illegal mining.
Mr. Darko also criticized the media’s handling of galamsey issues, accusing them of focusing on sensational stories rather than the structural causes of illegal mining. He stressed that despite media coverage, little progress has been made since 2022 in addressing the root of the problem. The OSP remains committed to investigating corruption in the sector and keeping the public informed as necessary.
