BY Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communication Bureau in Suhum has mounted a strong rebuttal to a recent statement issued by the Suhum Constituency branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over illegal and irresponsible mining activities reported at Esaase and Krobomu, insisting that the Member of Parliament for the area, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has no connection to the activities.
In a statement dated August 28, 2026, the Suhum NPP rejected what it described as an attempt by the NDC to shift responsibility for the reported mining activities and challenged the Suhum Municipal Chief Executive, Lydia Ohenewa Sarah, and other officials to answer questions about developments in the affected communities.
The response follows growing controversy over mining activities at Esaase and Krobomu, where concerns have been raised about alleged destruction of cocoa farms, community lands and portions of the Densu River.
The matter gained further political attention after the Suhum MP visited the affected communities to assess the situation and subsequently called for investigations into the activities.
According to the NPP, the MP travelled from Parliament in Accra to Krobomu-Esaase after reports of mining activities emerged on social media, with the party arguing that he attended to obtain first-hand information rather than rely on political commentary.
The party said the MP’s visit enabled him to interact with chiefs, elders and young people and observe what it described as extensive environmental degradation at the site
The NPP Communication Bureau said the Krobomu Mmrantehene, who reportedly accompanied the MP to the affected area, told him that the mining activities had started approximately two months earlier.
According to the account contained in the NPP statement, the Mmrantehene further alleged that residents initially attempted to prevent excavators and other mining equipment from entering the community.
The NPP claimed that a meeting was subsequently held after a call was made to the Assembly Member for the Omenako Electoral Area, Richard Afasi, whom the party identified as also being the NDC Constituency Chairman.
The party alleged that Hon. Afasi told the chiefs and residents that the miners possessed legitimate licences and that copies of their documents had been submitted to the Suhum Municipal Assembly. It further alleged that the residents were told that National Security was aware of the operation and could intervene if the community continued to resist the movement of the machinery.
The NPP said the chiefs subsequently allowed the equipment to proceed, allegedly out of fear, and that further meetings were later held with community leaders regarding the mining operation.
The party also said the name “Goaza” had been mentioned to the chiefs as the owner or operator of the concession, although it called for the relevant authorities to establish the legal identity and status of the operator.
Another major issue raised by the NPP concerns the Densu River. The party said the Krobomu Mmrantehene told the MP that the river had allegedly been blocked and diverted to facilitate mining operations.
The NPP maintained that the reported diversion and pollution of the river constituted a serious environmental concern and argued that no legitimate mining authorisation should be interpreted as permission to destroy a river.
The party further claimed that several cocoa farms had been destroyed in the course of the mining activities, adding that such reports required urgent attention from the appropriate regulatory agencies.
At Esaase, the NPP said the MP also interacted with some youth who allegedly complained about the impact of the mining activities and the reported diversion of the river.
According to the party, the youth claimed that attempts to protest against the activities resulted in confrontations with private security personnel they identified as “Budo.”
The NPP stressed that the allegations should be investigated rather than treated as facts.
The controversy has also brought the role of the Suhum Municipal Assembly into focus.
The NPP statement claimed that the MCE had previously visited Krobomu and encountered an excavator being transported towards the mining area.
According to the party’s account, the community protested, ed and the MCE allegedly stopped the equipment and directed that it be taken to the Assembly.
The NPP is consequently questioning the basis for any subsequent claim that the Municipal Assembly was unaware of mining activities at Esaase.
The party said that after his visit, the Suhum MP contacted the MCE by telephone to brief her about what he had observed and to encourage her to visit the affected area so that both sides could work towards addressing the problem.
According to the NPP, the MCE promised to respond but did not do so before the NDC issued its latest statement.
NPP Demands Investigation
Rather than accept the NDC’s call for investigations into the MP, the Suhum NPP has called for scrutiny of several individuals and institutions whose alleged roles it believes require clarification.
The party specifically mentioned Richard Afasi, the MCE, and members of the current NDC constituency executive, while emphasising that any investigation should be based on evidence and due process.
Among the questions raised by the NPP are whether Richard Afasi facilitated the alleged entry of the mining operators into the community and, if so, what documentation he relied upon in assuring residents about the legality of the operation.
The party is also demanding clarification regarding the alleged seizure of an excavator by the Municipal Assembly, including its ownership, the circumstances surrounding the seizure, re and whether a formal police report was made.
The NPP further referred to alleged audio recordings in which some NDC members purportedly discuss the mining activities and claimed that some constituency executiveknow of the situation.
The party has called for such claims to be independently investigated.
It also questioned an alleged statement attributed to an NDC official at Suhum NADMO concerning the Assembly’s involvement in the seizure of an excavator.
The NPP argues that if the reports of mining activities are untrue, the authorities should establish that through a transparent investigation.
Conversely, if illegal or environmentally damaging mining is taking place, the party says those responsible must face the law.
NPP Rejects Allegations Against Suhum MP
A central issue in the latest political exchange is the NDC’s alleged attempt to link the current Suhum MP to mining activities said to have occurred in the area in 2024.
The NPP has categorically rejected that allegation, insisting that Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe had no involvement in the Esaase mining activities.
The party also challenged the NDC to identify any former NPP constituency chairman it claims was involved in illegal mining at Esaase in 2024 and provide evidence to support the allegation.
The NPP maintained that if credible evidence exists against any individual, the appropriate avenue is for the matter to be reported to the relevant law-enforcement institutions rather than being handled through political accusations.
The party further argued that the present controversy should be separated from partisan politics because the protection of the Densu River and agricultural lands affects residents irrespective of their political affiliation.
Pressure Mounts On Authorities
The latest statement adds another layer to an already contentious debate over mining activities at Esaase and Krobomu.
The NPP says information gathered from the communities points to activities that allegedly began recently, while the party has disputed claims seeking to associate the current MP with the situation.
It is now calling on the relevant authorities to establish the facts surrounding the operation, including the identity of the operator, the status of any mining licence, the ownership and boundaries of the concession, environmental approvals and the circumstances under which the mining equipment entered the communities.
The party insists that its position is not opposition to legitimate mining but resistance to activities that could damage water bodies, farmlands and community livelihoods.
The NPP Communication Bureau has therefore reiterated its position that Suhum will not accept irresponsible mining, while challenging the authorities to investigate the allegations and make the findings known.
