The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly in the Western North Region, Mr. Sebastian Obeng, has firmly denied allegations that he sent his aide to collect money from illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) operators in the Chirano Traditional Area.
He also dismissed claims that there is tension in the area over illegal mining activities involving high-profile local officials.
Mr. Obeng reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting galamsey and called on chiefs, stakeholders, and civil society to support efforts to curb the menace.
His response follows allegations of corruption linked to illegal mining activities within the municipality.
The MCE described the accusations as false, baseless, and a “cooked-up story,” stressing that he is a law-abiding citizen and would be the last person to undermine government efforts to combat illegal mining.
He stated that the claims are a calculated attempt to tarnish his reputation and undermine his work.
“Why would I send my special aide to extort money from galamsey operators at Chirano?
That would damage my own position as MCE,” he questioned.
He further challenged his accusers to provide credible evidence.
“If my aide is indeed using my name to collect money, why haven’t they produced evidence so I can take action? These are just falsehoods meant to destroy reputations,” he said.
Mr. Obeng emphasized that no pictorial or documentary evidence has been presented to support the allegations, making them mere hearsay and insufficient for any investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
He reiterated that allegations must be backed by verifiable proof before they can be taken seriously.
The MCE also revealed that the Municipal Assembly has strongly opposed unauthorized community mining in Chirano and has taken steps to dismantle illegal operations.
According to him, security agencies—including the Minerals Commission, police, and Blue Water Guards—were deployed to remove an unauthorized signpost erected by unknown individual attempting to initiate illegal mining activities.
“When my attention was drawn to this illegal activity, I directed a joint task force to dismantle the signpost. It is currently in the custody of the Minerals Commission,” he explained.
He added that joint security teams conducted surveillance but could not identify those responsible for erecting the signpost.
Mr. Obeng noted that security agencies have intensified intelligence gathering and surveillance in the area and are encouraging the public to report suspicious activities.
He further disclosed that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minerals Commission, and the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (COMSDEP) recently toured mining-prone communities in the municipality.
The aim of the exercise is to identify suitable areas for responsible small-scale mining, formalize illegal operations, and introduce modern, sustainable mining practices.
The initiative also seeks to create a comprehensive database of miners, enabling them to receive training, equipment, and legal recognition through cooperative mining structures.
According to the MCE, the government is intensifying efforts to regularize small-scale mining by registering miners and forming cooperatives to ensure accountability and environmental protection.
He explained that the process will help distinguish legitimate miners from illegal operators while improving monitoring and enforcement.
“If you drive miners away from one area, they often move elsewhere and continue illegal activities. That is why we are putting measures in place to formalize and regulate their operations,” he said.
Mr. Obeng acknowledged that illegal mining has previously caused damage to forest reserves and water bodies in the Bibiani and Chirano areas, prompting increased security operations and stricter enforcement.
However, he maintained that recent efforts have led to the closure of previously active illegal mining sites in Chirano.
He stated that illegal mining activities are often carried out secretly in remote forest areas, making detection difficult without reliable intelligence.
“As of now, to the best of my knowledge as MUSEC Chairman, I have not seen any active illegal mining at the old sites in Chirano after we warned miners to stop,” he said.
He added that during a recent trip through Chirano to Subri Nkwanta on March 28, 2026, he did not observe any illegal mining activities.
The MCE emphasized that while hidden operations may still exist, they require intelligence-led efforts to uncover.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to protecting water bodies and forest reserves and urged community members to support authorities in reporting illegal mining activities.
