Concerned miners accuse Joseph Yamin, Yakubu Abanga, Colonel Tali, others of being behind a parallel Anti-Galamsey Taskforce

The Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (CSSMGG) has accused National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives Joseph Yamin and Yakubu Abanga of supporting a parallel, illegal task force operating in various mining communities across the country.

In a statement copied to otecfmghana.com and signed by the association’s chairman, Andrew Abban, the group claimed that the taskforce, often seen in full military uniform, has been terrorizing miners in areas such as Sekondi, Bekwai, Offinso, and Prestea.

According to the association, affected miners have reported that the taskforce members frequently claim connections to high-ranking individuals, particularly naming Yamin, the NDC National Organiser, and Abanga, the party’s 3rd National Vice Chairperson.

We publish in full the statement from the Concern Small Scale Mining Group in Ghana.

Date: 9th July, 2025.
Statement by Concern Small Scale Mining Group on Operations Of the Parallel Anti-Galamsey Taskforce:

We, the Concern Small Scale Mining Group in Ghana (CSSMGG), by this Statement, are hereby registering our utmost displeasure and disdain about the activities of some assigns in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as the National Security Office.

These assigns, including military and police officers, have been visiting some of our mining concessions and sites across the country to extort money from some of our members.

More worryingly, these assigns carry sophisticated weapons in full military uniforms, ransack the sites of our members and subject them to inhuman treatment, including extortion of money.

Investigations
Our checks, since the issue gained currency, reveal that some of these assignees boast of governmental support as well as links to persons in the National Security Outfit.

Recently, in Prestea, some of our miners claimed they saw Warrant Officers Ayamba and Warrant Officer Ben (Bernard), who were operating with some officers fully attired in military colours.

Other miners claimed they spotted Sergeant Salifu Abdul and Lance Corporal Adu Richmond as well as
Sergeant Kunya Akwasi and Lance Corporal Awaga Rocky are at their mining sites.

These military officers, our further checks reveal, were allegedly sent by one Colonel Tali, who we learn is the Operations Commander at the National Security Office.

Party Executives’ Involvement:
Meanwhile, some of our members in the Ashanti Region also claim that their sites are tormented by this parallel group, calling themselves the Anti-Galamsey Taskforce.

We have information that these operatives use the names of some National Democratic Congress party executives to extort money.

Common names that are mentioned by these parallel taskforce assigns have been Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC, Yakubu Abanga, 3rd Vice-Chairperson of the NDC, and others.

We are therefore saddened by the activities of these illegal persons since their activities are succeeding in forcing our members to halt their legitimate business.

Some of the members, sadly, have refused to go to their sites, fearing that they may be attacked by the illegal anti-galamsey task force.

Questions
We wonder why both National Security assigns are engaging in illegal enterprise and attacking miners whose livelihoods help the country to grow its economy.

We are also surprised that rather than helping us to carry out our legitimate business, some persons within the ruling NDC are aiding the activities of these unscrupulous persons posing as a parallel task force against galamsey to destroy our businesses.

Appeal
We hereby call on the President, who has since the assumption of power shown respect for our work to act decisively to halt the activities of these parallel groups.

We, however, call on the Minister of Lands, Hon Armah Kofi Buah, to intensify efforts in streamlining activities of the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce so that miners could feel safe in their sites and concessions

We are hopeful that by bringing these issues to the public domain, the President would tackle our concerns and together with the Minister of Lands work to address same.

Signed:
Chairman
Concern Small Scale Miners in Ghana Group
Andrew Abban
(0244-254-238)