Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has brazenly flouted a Tarkwa High Court order barring mining activities on a contentious land in Bompieso. Alongside Barbara Oteng Gyasi, a parliamentary hopeful, and Dr Isaac Dasemani, the Municipal Chief Executive, Duker stormed the disputed site to inaugurate the Bompieso Community Mining Scheme amidst pomp and fanfare.
The defiance follows a restraining order issued on March 1, 2024, as part of a legal battle between Wobedibi Community Mining Ltd and several defendants, including Nana Atta Brempom, Asare Bediako, and others. The High Court presided over by Her Ladyship Mercy Adei Kotei, ordered the defendants and their associates to halt all activities on the land until the final determination of the case.
“It is hereby ordered that the defendants, their privies, agents, and any persons claiming interest through them are restrained from dealing with or interfering with the land in dispute,” the court directed unequivocally.
Rather than heed the court’s decision, Duker and his team pressed ahead with the mining project’s launch, drawing accusations of contempt and political muscle-flexing.
Documents obtained by The Hawk reveal that Wobedibi Community Mining Ltd is the rightful leaseholder of the land, having received ministerial approval in October 2021 to operate a 25,000-acre concession for five years. This approval was formalized in January 2022 after Wobedibi fulfilled all financial and regulatory obligations.
Insiders allege that Duker and Dasemani attempted to strong-arm Wobedibi into dissolving their company in favour of a new entity controlled by their handpicked allies. Wobedibi’s refusal to play ball reportedly irked the Deputy Minister, who allegedly resorted to blocking their operations.
“This is nothing short of a blatant abuse of power,” a senior representative from Wobedibi told The Punch. “They want to take over what we’ve worked hard to build, despite all the approvals and payments we’ve made.”
In response to the Deputy Minister’s actions, Wobedibi’s lawyers have filed contempt charges against Duker, Oteng Gyasi, and Dasemani for their role in disregarding the court order. The move has sparked widespread criticism, with observers questioning the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law in the mining sector.
“How does a Deputy Minister so openly defy the courts? This sets a dangerous precedent for impunity in public office,” a legal expert remarked.
Critics have slammed the Bompieso launch as a calculated display of defiance, pointing to political motives. The scheme, they argue, reflects the broader issues of power struggles, corruption, and disregard for due process plaguing Ghana’s small-scale mining sector.
The spotlight is now on the courts to determine whether Mireku Duker and his allies will face the consequences of their actions or if this will become yet another case of unchecked political excess.
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