Aowin Traditional Council accuses MP of engaging in galamsey

The Aowin Traditional Council is accusing its Member of Parliament, Oscar Ofori Larbi, of being involved in illegal mining operations in the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve.

It has called on all stakeholders to collaborate to stop the destruction of the Forest.

This call to action comes after a deadly clash between two illegal mining groups, which resulted in two fatalities and several injuries.

The Aowin Traditional Council on January 27 held a news conference urging Lands and Natural Resources Minister- designate, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah to protect the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, which has been infiltrated by illegal miners despite a ban on such activities by the traditional council.

The Council accused the MP of the area, Oscar Ofori Larbi of involvement. They alleged that he formed a Galamsey squad and hired thugs from Northern Ghana to work on his behalf after the NDC’s success in the 2024 elections.

“When Nana heard about the issue, we called Larbi, but he didn’t show up. Instead, KED, his special assistant, came to the palace and told us that the individuals engaging in illegal activities in the forest were operating with Larbi’s authority and power. He revealed that the squad formed by the MP was responsible for the destruction, and whenever confronted, they would claim to be working for or on behalf of Larbi.” Nana Ntow, Chief of Nkwanta recalled.

According to the Traditional Council, Oscar Ofori Larbi has ignored their calls to address these concerns, prompting them to call on the Regional Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to intervene. However, the MP reportedly responded in anger.

Nana Opayin II, the Tufuhene of the Enchi Traditional Council stated that “As we speak, Larbi has not honoured our call. Nananom engaged diplomatically with the Regional Executives of the NDC to call Larbi to order but he abused them! He went ahead and collected GHS200,000 entry fee for groups to enter our forest reserves. Consequently, Nananom had no choice than write to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference on 20th January, 2025 to help appeal to the Government to stop Larbi and his gang.”

The Traditional Council is therefore calling for a joint effort from the government, Forestry Commission, media outlets, and security agencies to stop the destruction of the Aowin Forest Reserve and protect the environment.

“We appeal to the IGP to commence investigations into Larbi’s acts, evidence of which shall be provided by Nananom. We need a collective effort from Government through the Forestry Commission, the Media and the Security Services to stem the tide of blatant destruction of Aowin Forest Reserve, which is detrimental to the survival of not just Aowin but Ghana.”

In his response to allegations of involvement in illegal mining in the Tano Anwia Forest on TV3’s News 360, Oscar Ofori Larbi’s mentioned that “Every single allegation against me is completely false and baseless. This is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation. The claim that I’ve brought northerners to engage in galamsey is particularly surprising, given that these individuals are actually party members who were introduced to the illegal mining task force by the traditional authorities themselves.”

“I’m shocked by these accusations, especially since I took proactive steps to combat illegal mining in the area. On January 12, I brought in military personnel from the 2nd Infantry Battalion to evict all illegal miners from the forest reserve. The operation took place from January 14 to 17.”

“It’s implausible that the alleged destruction of the forest reserve could have occurred between January 17 and now, especially given the recent military intervention. I’m confident that I will be vindicated once the facts come to light.”

When questioned by the anchor about his refusal to heed the Traditional Council’s call, he said, “I didn’t ignore the Traditional Council’s call. At the time, I was attending to a personal matter at the Enchi Government Hospital, and they were aware of it. They delegated Nana Tando, one of the chiefs, to meet with me once I recovered.

However, by the time I was well enough, Nana Tando had traveled to Accra. When I arrived in Accra, he returned to Enchi. I intend to respond to their call through Nana Tando. My absence is not a deliberate disregard for their summons, but rather a result of my busy schedule and the circumstances.”

Honorable Oscar Ofori Larbi has pledged to collaborate with Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the Minister-Designate for Lands and Natural Resources, to combat illegal mining activities in the area. This commitment comes amidst allegations against Larbi regarding his involvement in galamsey. Larbi has denied these allegations, emphasizing his willingness to work with Buah to find a lasting solution

 

 

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