The Extraction Accountability Project (TEAP) has formally petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to launch a full-scale investigation into allegations of corruption, bribery, and complicity involving senior government officials, security operatives, and members of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) in Ghana’s ongoing fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In a petition dated August 22, 2025, TEAP specifically called on EOCO to probe the controversial release of 43 seized excavators allegedly linked to Chinese illegal mining operators at Simpa Junction.
Officials Named in the Petition
According to TEAP, several high-ranking public officials and military officers were allegedly involved in the questionable release of the machines. The petition lists the following individuals:
- Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
- Colonel Dominic Buah, Leader of NAIMOS
- W.O. Richard Asante, NAIMOS officer
- Lt. Col. Domme Owusu (2BN)
- Brigadier General Musah Wajah (rtd), Security Liaison Officer, Western Region
- Lt. Col. Philip Tetteh Nartey (CO 2BN)
- Charles Yawo Azalikor
Allegations of Bribery and Compromise
TEAP cited whistleblower reports alleging that large sums of money exchanged hands to secure the release of the excavators. The petition further accuses NAIMOS of selective law enforcement, claiming that repeated reports of compromised operations have undermined the fight against illegal mining.
Galamsey: A National Security and Economic Threat
TEAP emphasized that the issue of galamsey extends far beyond environmental destruction. The group described illegal mining as an organized criminal enterprise that undermines:
- Ghana’s economy through loss of revenue and destruction of arable lands
- Public health due to mercury contamination and polluted water bodies
- The rule of law, with allegations of corruption eroding public trust in state institutions
The organization urged EOCO to act swiftly, stating that only a transparent and impartial probe can restore confidence in Ghana’s anti-galamsey campaign.
Read The Petition Below:
