Small-scale miners has distanced itself from a controversial statement alleging misconduct by two senior officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), calling the claims unfounded and the issuing group illegitimate.
In a press release dated July 13, the National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, Ghana, rejected any association with a July 9 statement circulated in the media. The earlier statement—attributed to a previously unknown group called the “Concern Small Scale Miners Association”—accused NDC National Organizer Joseph Yammin and 3rd Vice Chairperson Yakubu Abanga of orchestrating a rogue anti-galamsey (illegal mining) taskforce. According to the release, the taskforce was allegedly involved in harassing and extorting funds from small-scale miners.
The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association, led by President Michael Kwadwo Peprah, said the claims are categorically false and do not represent the views of any recognized entity in Ghana’s small-scale mining sector.
“We wish to state categorically that our Association neither authored nor endorsed any such statement,” Peprah said, noting that the organization behind the allegations is not registered with any regulatory authority.
The July 9 statement was purportedly signed by an individual named Andrew Abban, who identified himself as chairman of the Concern Small Scale Miners Association. However, according to Peprah, the group’s contact details were found to be inactive, and its credentials unverifiable.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored such baseless allegations,” Peprah said. “However, due to numerous calls and media inquiries, we find it necessary to clarify the matter publicly.”
The Association characterized the statement as a deliberate misinformation campaign aimed at creating confusion within Ghana’s mining sector. It urged media outlets, industry stakeholders, and the public to disregard the claims.
