COCOBOD Accuses Police of Extortion and Backing Illegal Mining

Tensions escalated on Thursday, January 11, 2023, as a heated confrontation unfolded between the Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) Anti-illegal mining team and the police at Brofoyedru in the Ashanti Region.

The COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining Unit had ventured into Old Atatam and nearby areas in the Fomena District to engage with cocoa farmers and miners.

Their primary objective was to emphasize the critical need to shield cocoa farms from the adverse effects of illegal mining activities.

To the surprise of farmers and miners, revelations surfaced that a group of police officers had been extorting money from illegal miners on a weekly basis, essentially supporting and facilitating illicit mining operations.

The situation intensified when ten police officers from the Obuasi District Command, aboard a police vehicle with the service registration number GP 3401, were observed returning from illegal mining sites.

Efforts by COCOBOD officials to question the police personnel further fueled the confrontation, leading to a pursuit.

Upon reaching a police barrier at Brofoyedru, one of the vehicles carrying a COCOBOD official ahead of the team stopped, obstructing the escape route of the police vehicle.

The conflict took a perilous turn when the police threatened to use force against COCOBOD officials unless they allowed passage.

Despite attempts by the police to conceal their identity, the COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining team successfully documented the vehicle details, including registration number GP 3401, and identified two officers involved—P. A. Abdellah and one Amidu.

Head of COCOBOD’s team, Prof. Michael Kwateng, recounted, “The COCOBOD team was informed that the Police have arrived, going round taking money and removing parts of the excavators from the miners. The Police later met COCOBOD officials on their way who tried to stop them but the police refused.

Upon reaching a barrier at Brofoyedur, they were obstructed by one of the COCOBOD’s vehicles, and the two teams clashed; one of the Senior Police Officers threatened to shoot the COCOBOD officers in the heat of confrontation.”

Prof. Michael Kwateng, head of the COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, emphasized numerous tip-offs about police complicity in illegal mining, causing frustration among farmers as their cocoa farms faced continuous invasion.

Despite these challenges, he reiterated COCOBOD’s unwavering commitment to curbing illegal mining activities, emphasizing the need to safeguard farmers and their crucial cocoa farms.

COCOBOD officials urgently call upon the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers in illegal mining.

COCOBOD, projected to purchase 850,000 tonnes of cocoa last year, fell short due to the influence of illegal mining and smuggling.