Lawyer presses Attorney-General for update on EOCO galamsey probes

Private legal practitioner Kwesi Botchway Jnr has asked the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for a formal update on ongoing investigations into alleged illegal mining involving some high-profile individuals.

In a letter dated 17 December 2025, Mr Botchway requested clarity on:

The current status of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) investigations

Any interim reports submitted to the Attorney-General

Expected timelines for completing the probes

His request follows a 15 July 2025 directive from the Attorney-General instructing EOCO, under the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804), to investigate suspected illegal mining in a number of mining districts. That directive specifically mentioned individuals named in what were described as credible reports, including Yakubu Abanga and Joseph Yamin.

Mr Yamin is the National Organiser of the opposition NDC, while Mr Abanga serves as a National Vice Chairman of the party.

The scope of EOCO’s work also covers issues arising from the Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng report, which has been central to public debate on illegal mining (galamsey) and environmental destruction.

Mr Botchway said growing public concern — fuelled by media reports and intelligence briefings — about the involvement of some individuals in unauthorised mining made transparency essential. He noted that such activities breach the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995, and continue to endanger rivers, forest reserves and livelihoods in affected communities.

“These activities not only violate our mining laws but gravely threaten our water bodies, forests and local livelihoods,” he argued, adding that his request was made “in good faith” to promote openness and strengthen confidence in the state’s fight against galamsey.

The Office of the Attorney-General has not yet publicly responded to his letter.