Gwira Banso Divisional Chief  Exposed Again! ---Over Alleged Extortion Spree On Galamseyers Since 2000 Till 2023

Recently, there was a flash news about Nana Ette Akrade II's alleged involvement in bribery and corruption dealings with galamsey operations in the Gwira Banso Divisional Area  through his recently formed community task force (macho-men) who operate for the chief  contrary to government's directive.

Gwira Banso Divisional Chief  Exposed Again! ---Over Alleged Extortion Spree On Galamseyers Since 2000 Till 2023
Divisional Chief of Banso in the Gwira Traditional Area of the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality in the Western Region, Nana Ette Akrade II

The government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been urged to investigate the Divisional Chief of Banso in the Gwira Traditional Area of the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality in the Western Region, Nana Ette Akrade II, in the midst of accusations and counter-accusations on his alleged involvement in extorting money from galamseyers (illegal miners), operating illegally in his traditional area of jurisdiction without recourse to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006(ACT 703).

Recently, there was a flash news about Nana Ette Akrade II's alleged involvement in bribery and corruption dealings with galamsey operations in the Gwira Banso Divisional Area  through his recently formed community task force (macho-men) who operate for the chief  contrary to government's directive.

The investigations have revealed how the Gwira Banso Chief and his elders have connived and succeeded in giving out already mined pits of the mining companies to the illegal miners to mine gold resources in the area and shared their proceeds.

Although the chief and elders of Gwira Banso are to ensure that the mining companies reclaimed the pits on the lands they mined gold resources, this paper was reliably informed that Nana Ette Akrade II and his elders have rather gave out these pits to the miners to mine and enjoyed the proceeds of the illegal activities, as the operators often paid homage to them.

The 11-pages of hand written document which was intercepted from Gwira Banso Divisional Area detailed how Nana Ette Akrade II has been using his chieftaincy office to employ person known to be his secretary to be collecting monies on the daily basis from the illegal small scale miners who were given out these pits.

The hand written document in the Note One exercise book embossed picture of Nana Ette Akrade II has records of how the chief and his elders have enjoyed the proceeds from the illegal small scale mining operators on their land since 2000 till 2023.


The illegal miners, according to document available to this paper paid monies between GH¢3000.00 and GH¢2000.00 in the daily basis since in the year 2000 to 2023 after which the chief shares the money with his elders and other beneficiaries.

The document showed the various titles of the concessions of the pits by the various mining companies which had fallen under traditional jurisdiction of Nana Ette Akrade II.

Per the law, the chief is supposed to ensure that the already mined pits are properly reclaimed, but the chief took possession of these pits and gave out to the illegal small scale miners.

The practice which some concerned residents and youths in Gwria Banso kicked against it and stated that it was completely amounted to bribery and corruption, hence the need for the government to investigate Nana Ette Akrade II.

The group calling itself Banso Coalition Against Illegal Mining therefore, called on the government to initiate an investigation to find out how galamsey is destroying water bodies in the Gwira Banso as conflicting stories emerge to dent the image of President Akufo-Addo and New Patriotic Party (NPP). government.

According to the group, there are pieces of documentary envidence which showed that the menace of illegal small scale mining activities is still prevalent in the Gwira Banso and its adjoining communities and the colour of water bodies has not changed in the area.

The group stressed that these water bodies, forest range reserves and farm lands were also still destroyed and that the traditional authorities are benefiting from galamsey.

The group added that the "chief and his elders enjoy the crumbs of the proceeds [of galamsey]. They may not have authorised them to come, but those people will pass through the palace, adding that the Nzema District Assembly also know."

The group indicated that the fight against galamsey in Gwira Traditional Area, particularly in Banso keeps failing, because the chief, land owners, stakeholders and politicians are part of the problem.

“They extort money behind the scenes from these galamseyers [illegal miners]. I know what goes into these things. They pay their masters, who are the politicians, to stay away from them to enable them to do their nefarious activities,” the group narrated.

"It is important that the government finds out the truth about this dangerous situation of alleged extortions by the chief through his agents because it will definitely affect the popularity of President Akufo-Addo in the Gwira Traditional Area if it is true that the chief who is supposed to help the government clamp down activities of illegal small scale mining activities are engaged in this act of illegality to support illegal mining,"  the group stated


"The miners when they mined they supposed to reclaim the pits but Nana Ette Akrade II chief who supposed to make that that these mining pits are covered pleased with the miners and they left the whole pits for him so that he also engages the youths in the Banso Divisional Area to go and work in these pits so that he can also get something from the activities of the operators," the group alleged.

"It is completely indicates that the chief has encouraged the miners to do the mining without doing the reclamation of the pits on the lands, because the law of the government has stipulated that after mining activities you have to reclaim the land," the group noted.

According to the group, Nana Ette Akrade II has publicly endorsed illegal small scale mining activities in his area to the extent that it has become like an equity.

However, when contacted to get his side of the story, Nana Ette Akrade II flatly declined to comment and rather invited the journalist to come to Banso before he can respond to the matter appropriately.

But when this journalist quizzed him further, Nana Ette Akrade II denied endorsing illegal mining activities as well as benefiting from the mining activities of galamseyers in the area.

He stressed that his outfit is not even aware of anyone being employed in Gwira Banso who is mandated to take daily records of the monies collected from the miners.

"I am not even aware that my photo being embossed on the Note One of the exercise to take daily records of the activities of the illegal small scale miners," the Gwira Banso Divisional Chief stated 

Nana Ette Akrade II stressed that he has owned mining pits in his name in the area for which he has given them out to the youths/ illegal miners to mine gold and shared the proceeds with him and his elders.

"I am inviting you (referring to this reporter) to come to Gwira Banso community to do your independent investigations so that you can see things yourself to report accurately on this matter. Because if l tell you something today it may be true or lies," the chief stressed.
Stay tuned since the paper would bring to you any new development on this matter.