By Grace Zigah
The political rivalry between twin brothers on the political divides, New Patriotic Party, NPP, and National Democratic Congress, NDC, has taken a sensational twist, as Abanga Yakubu Fuseini, a former NPP parliamentary candidate, openly declared that his twin brother, Abanga Yakubu Hassan— a National executive of the NDC—is “capable” of engaging in illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
This explosive claim, made in an interview with Joy News during the NPP’s just-ended National Delegates Conference on July 19, 2025, has stirred new controversy within Ghana’s increasingly polarized political landscape.
Political Storm
Fuseini, who contested the Aowin parliamentary seat on the NPP ticket in 2024 and lost, did not hold back when quizzed about his twin brother’s alleged involvement in illegal mining.
“I have never seen him doing galamsey,” he admitted. “But as an NDC person, I believe he is capable of doing it. I cannot defend any NDC person.”
He went further to express satisfaction with the directive by the Attorney-General for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate his brother.
“I want more bad news about the NDC to send a message to Ghanaians,” he said, linking the issue to former President John Mahama’s unfulfilled pledge to end galamsey.
The EOCO Probe
The controversy began when the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, ordered EOCO to investigate Yakubu Abanga—who serves as the NDC’s National Third Vice Chairman—and the party’s National Organiser, Joseph Yamin, over their alleged links to unauthorised mining activities.
A July 15 letter from the A-G’s office directed EOCO to interrogate the two officials following reports suggesting that they may be behind fake anti-galamsey taskforces terrorising legitimate miners in several regions, including Ashanti, Western, Western North, Eastern and Bono.
The taskforces in question, according to aggrieved small-scale miners, wear camouflage and carry weapons as they invade mining sites to extort money.
These claims were made public in a press conference led by the miners’ spokesperson, Andrew Abban.
“These activities not only violate our mining laws but also threaten water bodies, forest reserves, and livelihoods,” the A-G stated in his directive.
He also instructed EOCO to work closely with the Minerals Commission to broaden the probe and to revisit findings from the Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng Report on galamsey.
NDC’s Abanga Fights Back
In a separate media engagement, Yakubu Abanga, the NDC official at the centre of the storm, has denied any wrongdoing and described the allegations as a “malicious attempt” to tarnish his reputation.
He has, however, pledged full cooperation with investigations and made a bold declaration: “If anyone brings evidence that I’m involved in galamsey or using taskforces to extort money, I will resign today from my position.”
Abanga insists he has not been officially served with any summons but maintains that he has nothing to hide.
This is not the first time the Abanga brothers have clashed publicly.
In 2024, following his electoral defeat in Aowin, Fuseini Abanga accused his brother of actively campaigning against him and undermining his chances.
“He stood on political platforms and called on people to reject me. He sabotaged my campaign,” Fuseini alleged at the time.
Their strained relationship now appears to be deepening amid the unfolding galamsey scandal.
