The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate allegations of illegal mining against two high-ranking officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Joseph Yamin, the NDC National Organizer, and Yakubu Abanga, the Third Vice Chairman, are among those named in the directive.
Scope of Investigation
The investigation is expected to cover the matters highlighted in Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report on illegal mining. The Attorney-General’s directive emphasizes the need to probe not only the named individuals but also any other persons found to be complicit in these unlawful mining activities.
Background
The directive is in line with the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining and restoring sanity to the natural resource governance regime in Ghana. The President has consistently reiterated his government’s firm commitment to this cause.
Call for Regulatory Oversight
The Attorney-General has also invited the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to assist in the investigations, considering the regulatory oversight role of the Commission.
Upholding the Rule of Law
The Attorney-General’s office has emphasized the need to treat this matter with the urgency and gravity it deserves in order to uphold the rule of law and ensure the integrity of Ghana’s extractive governance framework [1][3][2].