Alhaji Jibril Zamba, the First Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Obuasi West, has publicly rejected accusations that he orchestrated an unlawful occupation of a licensed mining concession in the Adansi enclave of the Ashanti Region, according to YEN. Zamba pushed back against claims linking him to illegal mining operations on more than 200 acres of the concession, countering that the land in dispute was officially released to local residents following negotiations with the Minerals Commission and government officials.
Obuasi West NDC Vice Chairman Rejects Illegal Mining Allegations
According to the NDC official, the concession had no singular private owner, and approximately 60 percent of the land was redistributed to local residents following historical community protests. Zamba stated that he possessed documentation to substantiate his position, noting, That concession does not belong to anyone. I have the documents available with me.
With the matter currently before the courts, Zamba declined to provide further details but struck a defiant tone regarding any prospect of arrest, stating, The issue is in court, so I don't want to go deeper into it, but you can't arrest me. You can't arrest Zamba because I am well protected. You can't arrest me.
Concession Background and Stakeholder Claims
Management of Mining and Construction Services stated that the company secured all necessary licenses for the site, intending to pursue underground mining operations, as reported by myjoyonline.com. Managing Director Andy Amoah stated that the company invested $168 million over four years in exploration and pre-production work, with estimates pointing to a production of 100,000 ounces of gold over thirteen years. Amoah added that the company engaged catchment communities—including Nyankyerem, Akatakyieso, Anamon, and Adaase—and established an eleven-member standing committee alongside a pledge to donate two dollars for every ounce mined into a foundation.
However, Mining and Construction Services reported that illegal miners forced out legal operators and seized over 200 acres of the concession. According to the company, staff members with documentation were threatened, and excavators were brought onto the site. Zamba previously admitted to leading the charge and stated in a video message that the site was originally provided to them under the previous John Mahama administration so they would desist from entering AngloGold Ashanti’s concession.
Prior Military Detention Account
During his response to the accusations, Zamba recounted a prior military operation at the mining site that resulted in his detention, YEN reported. He claimed that his decision to surrender to authorities was driven by a desire to protect workers at the site, having invested GH¢17 billion in the area. Zamba stated he was taken to Accra, where a presidential staffer released him the same day without requiring him to make a formal statement, allowing him to resume operations.
Meanwhile, Obuasi West Municipal Chief Executive Faustilove Appiah Kannin denied knowledge of the issue during an assembly meeting, according to myjoyonline.com. The situation unfolds amid Ghana’s broader environmental and governance crackdown on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, particularly within mining-heavy regions such as Ashanti.
Broader Political Context on Galamsey Investigations
The allegations against Zamba coincide with broader political debates regarding illegal mining accountability in Ghana. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) recently questioned the status of petitions filed against NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin and Third National Vice Chairman Abanga Yakubu, following the conviction and 20-year prison sentence handed to Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case, according to CitiNewsroom.com.
NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong argued at a press conference that accountability must apply equally across political lines. In response, Joseph Yamin challenged accusers to produce evidence of his involvement, stating on Adom FM that he is not currently under investigation for galamsey, as noted by Adomonline.com. Yamin maintained that the matter before authorities involves allegations that a separate group has used his name to intimidate individuals rather than any direct mining activity on his part.
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