The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has clarified that investigations into the alleged involvement of Joseph Yamin and Abanga Yakubu in illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, have not yet been concluded.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, December 22, Dr Ayine said the matter remains under active investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), to which the case was formally referred in July. The probe arises from findings contained in the anti-galamsey report compiled by Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, which documented alleged political interference and networks linked to illegal mining operations.
The Attorney-General’s clarification follows public commentary by Kwesi Botchway, who stated on December 17 that he had written to the Attorney-General seeking updates on the status of the investigation, including interim findings and timelines for its completion, citing heightened public interest in the case.
However, Dr Ayine told journalists that his office has not yet received any such correspondence.
“I haven’t received any letter to that effect,” he said. “If the lawyer has indeed written, and the letter is available, you can forward it to me.”
The Attorney-General stressed that the investigation into the alleged galamsey activities is not limited to only two individuals, but forms part of a broader inquiry involving what he described as a complex network of persons suspected to be connected to illegal mining operations.
He explained that it is not the practice of his office or EOCO to release partial findings or commentary while investigations are ongoing.
“You will realise that in all the briefings I give on matters under EOCO investigation, we do not announce outcomes until investigations are fully concluded,” Dr Ayine stated.
According to him, premature disclosures could compromise the integrity of the process, especially in cases involving multiple actors and overlapping financial, political, and operational links.
Dr Ayine assured the public that once EOCO completes its work and submits its findings, his office will communicate the outcome appropriately. He emphasised that the nature of the allegations requires careful, methodical investigation and cannot be handled in isolation.
“This is a matter involving a whole complex web of people,” he said, adding that a comprehensive report would be issued in due course, once all relevant evidence has been examined and assessed.
The Attorney-General’s remarks come amid sustained public scrutiny of political involvement in illegal mining, a practice that has caused significant environmental degradation, polluted water bodies, and undermined livelihoods across parts of Ghana. His statement seeks to reassure the public that the investigations remain active and that accountability, where established, will follow due legal process.
