Videos: Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator Accused of Unlawful Takeover of Smart Mickey Mining Concession

Residents of Akatakyieso, a mining community in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region are demanding swift intervention from President John Mahama and his government, following the alleged takeover of Smart Mickey Mining Company by a group of some cohorts of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari, the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

According to the residents, the unlawful takeover of the mining concession is a politically motivated and an attempt to bring chaos between them and some group of people allegedly brought to the mining site by the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

The residents have vowed to resist any further attempts to transfer control of the concession by force, adding that they will face any foreigners at the mining concession just like what happened at the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) mine in Obuasi where five lives were claimed.

The NDC Chairman for Akatakyieso, Joseph Gyamfi, alias “ Chairman Pusher,” condemning the incident, said, “we were here a week ago when our brothers from the North, together with Captain (Retired) Jabari, trooped in to occupy our land as Ashantis.

As the NDC chairman for the town, I went there but I was not welcome even after showing them my party identity card.

All they were saying is that their party is in power which I don’t know the kind of party that belongs to them.

We’ll plead with you President Mahama and the Asantehene to intervene in this situation for us before it gets out of control.”

He continued that, the Regional Security Coordinator and his men, stormed the concession last week, evicted workers of Smart Mickey Mining Company and allegedly handed operations to them (those that accompanied him) and ordered them to bring any proceeds to him in Kumasi.

To add insult to injury, the machines operated by the Smart Mickey Mining Company were confiscated and handed over to the thugs to mine for Captain Jabari.

At a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday, May 6, demonstrators – young and old – adorned, including school children in red bands, held placards with incriptionss such as “Mahama you are disappointing us”, Michael Owusu is our Saviour don’t touch him, Asanteman is for Asantehene, Smart Mickey Mining Is rock mining not gala, We don’t need Jabari in the region, Don’t deny us our source of livelihood, We need jobs, not intimidation, National Security is not meant for state capture, Daylight Robbery, regional minister why are you quiet?,

Other incriptions include; “Mahama, is this what you promised us”, NDC is worst than NPP, NDC should stop frustrating local business, We don’t need Jabari in the region, call Obuasi NDC thugs to order, Asantehene please intervene, stop attacking Ashanti business community, chairman Gariba must be arrested, we want peace, we are dying slowly, Jabari stop frustrating Ashantis, , Mahama, sack all criminals from National Security, this is not what you promised us, Mahama, the land belongs to us, Jabari is a thief sack him, Jabari you are making NDC unpopular, NDC are liars, save local mining companies Arrest and investigate Jabari, Mr. President.

Addressing the media, Jones Owusu, Chairman of the Akatakyieso Unit Committee and the convener of the event, described the attempted seizure as a betrayal of trust and a violation of the rights of the community, emphasising that the concession was lawfully acquired in 2019 by Michael Owusu, popularly known as “Lion” or “Akwasi Macho.”

“We are not second-class citizens. Many of us supported the NDC in the last elections. This is our government too and this behavior is a disgrace,” he said, while pleading with President John Dramani Mahama to urgently intervene.

He added that since acquiring the concession, Smart Mickey Mining has undertaken several development projects for the community, including renovating the Akatakyieso Palace, re-roofing a dilapidated Basic and the Junior High School, supporting the local health post with logistics and initiating the construction of a police station currently 75% complete.

“The reason we are behind and fighting for Smart Mickey Mining Company is that they are really seeing to the development of the turn and helping the members as well as the outsiders including Fantes, Northerners and other tribes.

Even the police commander sometime said that the workload of the security has reduced because of the job opportunities around.The happiest thing about these is that the government was supposed to have done them but he took it upon himself to do them,” he added.

The company, he disclosed, has also supported local churches, donated to orphans and the underprivileged during festive seasons and provided jobs to many residents.

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE , a mine worker, who gave his name as “Maybe” and happens to be the NDC Chairman for Obuasi Central expressed disappointment in the state-sanctioned actions, warning that the government risks alienating its own supporters.

“Even if your party is in power, you cannot just seize someone’s registered concession. That’s lawlessness. If this continues, there will be chaos in the next few days,” he warned.

He alleged that the invading group includes individuals who recently participated in the invasion of the AngloGold Ashanti concession and called on Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and President Mahama to take swift action to restore calm in the community.

A visibly distressed resident, Afia Adwubi Kete, described the development as a case of “state capture,” reminding the President to remain true to his campaign promise that all Ghanaians will be treated equally, regardless of their party affiliations.

Attempts by this reporter to get Captain (Retired) John Kwame Jabari through both telephone calls and Short Message System (SMS), to react to the allegations proved unsuccessful as there were no response from him.

However, reacting to a similar allegation on a local radio station following a viral Facebook post by broadcast journalist Erastus Asare Donkor questioning the role of National Security at the mining site, the Regional Security Coordinator, dismissed claims that they have taken over and were illegally mining at the said site.