The Public Relations Officer of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, Daniel Ofori-Atta, has dismissed allegations linking Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko to illegal mining activities in Akyem Asikam in the Eastern Region.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (5 March), Ofori-Atta described the claims as “shocking” and insisted the prominent lawyer and political figure has no involvement in any galamsey operations on the land in question.
His response follows a report by the Daily Democratnewspaper alleging that Otchere-Darko had been fingered in illegal mining activities in the area.
According to Ofori-Atta, Otchere-Darko acquired a 30-acre parcel of land in the Akyem Asikam area about seven years ago for livestock farming.
He explained that the land lies within a broader mining concession area, where illegal miners have frequently invaded several adjoining lands, including properties belonging to other individuals and concession holders.
“About seven years ago, Gabby said he wanted to do livestock farming, so through me he acquired a 30-acre land in the Asikam area,” Ofori-Atta said.
He noted that illegal miners have repeatedly encroached on the land despite attempts to stop them.
“It is not only Mr. Otchere-Darko’s land that has been invaded. All the lands in that area, including those belonging to concession holders, have faced invasion by illegal miners,” he said.
Ofori-Atta added that he has personally intervened several times by contacting the police to arrest illegal miners operating on the land.
“I cannot count the number of times that I have personally invited the police to the land to effect arrests. But the nature of this thing is that when you arrest them during the day, they come back at night,” he explained.
To prevent further encroachment, he said Otchere-Darko directed that the land be walled, although the project has not yet been fully completed.
Ofori-Atta stressed that Otchere-Darko has visited the land only once since acquiring it and has not been directly involved in activities on the property.
“The entire town has been invaded by illegal miners. Nigerians and others move into cocoa farms and lands to mine. This is a national crisis,” he said.
He suggested the allegations may be politically motivated because Otchere-Darko is a politically exposed person.
“I am quite shocked that anyone would want to connect Mr. Otchere-Darko to what is happening in the area,” Ofori-Atta added.
He concluded by stating categorically that Otchere-Darko has no connection whatsoever with illegal mining on the land.
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