BY Daniel Bampoe
The political temperature surrounding the fight against illegal mining has risen sharply following fresh allegations against the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Solomon Kusi Brako.
The Minority in Parliament has renewed calls for President John Dramani Mahama to act decisively, describing the case as a major test of the government’s willingness to confront corruption within its own ranks.
Fresh Allegations Emerge As Minority Sounds Alarm
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament on Friday, the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, delivered a strong critique of the conduct of the Oda MCE, accusing him of abusing his authority and exploiting the illegal mining crisis for personal gain.
According to the Minority, the MCE has been demanding and collecting money from illegal miners within the Akyem Oda Municipality under the guise of “fines”, despite having no legal mandate to levy such charges.
“He claims he is taking money because they are engaging in galamsey. Can you imagine? He represents the President in that municipality, yet he is personally pocketing the money,” Annoh-Dompreh alleges, adding that no existing bylaw in the Birim Central Assembly authorizes such collections.
Miners Pay GH₵15,000 Each Amid Accusations of Extortion
The revelations follow earlier disclosures by the Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, who confirmed that the MCE admitted to imposing charges on miners without any official documentation or Assembly approval.
Some miners reportedly paid as much as GH₵15,000 each, with many believed to be local branch executives of the ruling NDC in Akyem Oda.
The Minority argues that the actions of the MCE directly contradict the government’s environmental protection efforts, especially at a time when illegal mining continues to destroy water bodies, forests, and farmlands across the country.
Even more troubling, according to the Minority, is the claim that after collecting money from the miners, the MCE later directed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAMOS) to storm their sites and destroy excavators and other mining equipment.
This unexpected crackdown sparked outrage among the affected miners, who insist that they had already paid the MCE to “settle” their issues.
“Such conduct is unbecoming of a government representative,” Jerry Ahmed Shaib noted, emphasizing that the contradictory actions have fueled perceptions of extortion, favoritism, and targeted harassment.
Call for Immediate Suspension and Full-Scale Probe
The Minority insists that President Mahama and the Local Government Ministry must immediately suspend Solomon Kusi Brako and initiate an independent investigation into the matter.
“If the government is serious about fighting galamsey, it must demonstrate that seriousness by disciplining its own appointees. This is the clearest test,” Annoh-Dompreh stressed.
Civil society groups in the Eastern Region have echoed similar concerns, arguing that failure to take action will further erode public trust in the government’s high-profile anti-galamsey operations.
Not the First Controversy: Background on the MCE’s Troubled Tenure
This scandal is not the first to cast a shadow over the stewardship of the Birim Central MCE. Just weeks ago, Solomon Kusi Brako faced severe public backlash after a viral Facebook exchange surfaced, in which he claimed to have spent GH₵6 million of the Assembly’s Common Fund on “Tuo Zaafi”.
Though he later described the post as fake, the remark drew widespread condemnation from residents and activists, who accused him of ridiculing demands for accountability in a municipality struggling with poor roads, stalled projects, and sanitation challenges.
The two controversies — the alleged extortion of miners and the infamous “Tuo Zaafi” comment — have combined to paint a troubling picture of alleged mismanagement, poor leadership, and unchecked impunity at the local government level.
Growing Pressure
The Minority maintains that the President must show leadership by acting swiftly.
“Disciplining your own appointee when they go wrong is the strongest signal you can send in the fight against galamsey,” Annoh-Dompreh declared.
