President John Dramani Mahama’s pledge to wage war on illegal mining activities popularly referred to as galamsey in the country may be greatly hindered as the name of the biological brother Alfred Mahama is allegedly being used to perpetuate the menace.
Alfred, senior brother of President Mahama, has been named by one Prince Kejah, a highly stubborn galamsey operator who is said to be polluting water bodies with his illegal mining activities, as his main protector, boasting that nobody can touch.
Information gathered by THE CUSTODIAN, indicates that Kejah has issued a strong warning to the National Security against efforts to arrest and prosecute him.
The warning, the paper further gathered, followed a massive swoop on Kejah’s illegal mining operations at Akyem Saaman near Osino in the Eastern Region by the National Security operatives on May 15, 2025, where his four excavators, one bulldozer, and three tipper trucks were seized.
Sources at the National Security have confirmed the seizure of the machinery, which have since been taken to Accra for further investigation.
However, other sources are claiming that President’s brother Alfred who is said to be in the United States at time of filing this report, is allegedly mounting pressure on the National Security Coordinator, DCOP Abdul-Razak Osman to release the equipment to the notorious galamsey operator.
THE CUSTODIAN has also gleaned that the DCOP Osman is being tormented by the intense pressure, knowing that releasing the mining equipment will embolden Kejah who is already on rampage.
Apparently, Kejah and members of his team took to their heels upon receiving a tip-off that the National Security operatives were storming their galamsey site.
Residents of Akyem Saaman are said to be happy that even though Kejah escaped arrest, the confiscation of his excavators and other mining equipment has brought some respite to their community that is suffering from severe environmental hazards caused by his illegal mining activities.
Credible reports indicate that Kejah and his group have been polluting River Akusu and River Birim, two sources of drinking water for the Akyem Samaan community.
Sources in the community have told THE CUSTODIAN that all efforts to get Kejah to stop his illegal activities have proved futile as he allegedly brags with his connections with President Mahama’s brother, Alfred.
Pollution of water of bodies
Akyem Saaman residents are worried about the level of pollution of water bodies around the community.
A widow and mother of two, Cici Fowa, in an interview with the paper, bemoaned that she could no longer drink from River Akusu and now has to spend a lot of money on sachet and bottled water.
“This is where we used to fetch water to drink and to wash our clothes,” citing the heavily polluted river which is a tributary of River Birim.
“Today, I spend between GH¢10 and GH¢15 daily on water,” she lamented.
Another resident and a farmer, Opanyin Kwasi Foli, decried that the level of destruction of the environment is frightening.
“When I look at how these galamsey people are destroying our water bodies, I feel very sad for this country,” he noted.
Following the illegal mining activities of Kejah, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission in the Eastern Region attempted to stop his operations.
However, their efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
The alleged influence of Alfred Mahama has moved beyond Akyem Saaman, as he has allegedly collaborated with key political heads in the Prestea/Huni Valley Municipal Assembly to take over the Apinto Shaft, Fanti Mine, and Banana Shaft, all in Aboso near Tarkwa, from a legitimate small-scale miner operating under the business name RMG.
Brief background
Reports indicate that Prince Kejah and his group took over a mining concession in Akyem Saaman a few days after National Democratic Congress (NDC) won power. Even though legitimate owners of the concession lodged a complaint with the Kyebi South Police Command, no concrete action was taken.
It was due to the apparent inaction of the police in the area that the owners reported the matter to the National Security and an operation was conducted, leading to the closure of the illegal mining site and two of his excavators taken to the National Security Yard in Accra on February 17, 2025
Regrettably, just two weeks after the national security operations, Kejah and his group resumed their illegal mining activities after pressure was mounted and their equipment were released to them.
This led to the recent confiscation of the machines.
Fruitless attempts
All attempts made to get the responses of both Alfred Mahama and Prince Kejah proved futile as they both failed to respond to our request.
For Kejah, this was what we sent:
“Good afternoon.
“We’re doing a story on your alleged galamsey activities in the Eastern Region where your mining equipment have been seized by the National Security.
“You have also been accused by our sources that you are using the name of Alfred Mahama to carry out your illegal mining operations.
“We just want to get your response on this matter sir.”
THE CUSTODIAN will duly publish their rejoinders if there are any.