The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mr Dominic Ayine has directed the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) to initiate investigation into the alleged role played by Joseph Yamin and Abanga in aiding illegal mining activities. Mr Joseph Yamin is the National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Yakubu Abanga, 3rd National Vice Chairman of NDC. In the letter dated July 15, Dr Ayine wrote “I write to direct your esteemed office to initiate investigations into suspected illegal mining activities being perpetrated by certain individuals within mining districts in the country. This directive is borne out of growing public concern, corroborated by media reports and intelligence, regarding the involvement of some citizens in unauthorized mining operations (generally called galamsey) that are in blatant contravention of the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.” “As Your Office is aware, H.E. the President has consistently reiterated his government’s firm commitment to eradicating illegal mining and restoring sanity to the natural resource governance regime in Ghana. In line with this national stance, and pursuant to your mandate under the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804), I am directing your Office to invite the following persons named in recent credible reports for interrogation namely, Mr. Yakubu Abanga and Mr. Joseph Yamin,” the Attorney General stated. However, Mr Yamin denies engaging in illegal mining, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’. He wrote, “For the records I am not part of any galamsey taskforce, neither have I been invited to even share ideas as to how to fight these illegal mining activities of some of these small-scale miners. If there’s any taskforce parading round with my name, the said group is operating illegally and must be resisted from their operations. “The work of the taskforce is strictly enforced by the state security and not party directives. For the records, I am not a miner neither do I do mining nor own a concession. If anyone is impersonating me that person or group of persons must be resisted or arrested. I urge the small scale miners to leave me out of their issues and approach the right authorities in finding a lasting solution to their problems. For the records again I am not involved in any such operations,” he stressed.