Abanga Yakubu Fuseini, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Aowin Constituency in the 2024 elections, has broken his silence on allegations of illegal mining (galamsey) levelled against his twin brother, Yakubu Abanga, who serves as the National 3rd Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In an interview with Joy News on the sidelines of the NPP’s Delegates Conference on July 19, 2025, Fuseini stated that although he has no personal evidence of his brother’s involvement in galamsey, he would not rule it out given his brother’s political affiliation.
“To me, as an NPP member, I am happy that EOCO should investigate my brother. I want more news that will allow me to send a message to Ghanaians because Mahama promised us he was going to fight galamsey and make it a thing of the past,” he said.
When asked if he believed his twin brother was indeed involved in illegal mining, Fuseini replied: “In fact, I can’t defend any NDC person; they are capable of doing anything. But to me, I have never seen him doing galamsey.”
He further stressed that he has no reason to defend any NDC member, adding that he welcomes “more bad news” from both the opposition party and the ruling government.
Attorney-General Orders EOCO Probe
It will be recalled that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, recently directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to conduct a full-scale investigation into alleged galamsey activities involving Joseph Yamin, the NDC’s National Organiser, and Yakubu Abanga.
In a letter dated July 15, 2025, Dr Ayine instructed EOCO to invite the two NDC executives for questioning over their alleged roles in unauthorised mining operations.
The directive follows heightened public concern, intelligence reports, and widespread media coverage of illegal mining activities, which continue to pose significant threats to Ghana’s water bodies, forest reserves, and rural livelihoods.
“These activities not only flout our mining regulations but also gravely endanger our water bodies, forest reserves, and local livelihoods,” the letter noted.
The Attorney-General has also tasked EOCO to extend its investigations to other individuals found complicit, with particular reference to concerns raised in the Prof. Frimpong-Boateng report on galamsey. He further directed EOCO to collaborate with the Minerals Commission to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated probe.
