Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, Tweneboa Kodua Fokuo, has accused the NDC administration of confusion and poor coordination in its fight against illegal mining, pointing to the recent Bonteso clash in the Amansie South District as evidence of mismanagement.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Tuesday, November 25, the MP said the government’s anti-galamsey operations in the area were misguided, resulting in needless tension between security officers and community members.
He argued that the individuals in Bonteso were not engaged in illegal gold mining but were involved in sand-winning for construction — a long-standing activity in the community.
“They came into power, and they are running helter-skelter. They are confused and they are making a lot of mistakes. Look, they went into my constituency, to Manso Nkwanta, the IGP’s special force went to a town called Bonteso. They went to the wrong place. I can tell you 100% with authority that where they claim galamsey was being done, I tell you, they win sand there. I tell you; it is just at the edge of the town.
“They have been wining sand there for decades. It is not gold. They win sand, they use it to build. There were trucks there carting this sand to cast blocks and anyone that wants to investigate this can investigate. That is why the town was angry,” he stated.
The Bonteso clash occurred on Tuesday, August 13, 2025, when a mob confronted the IGP’s Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force, which had arrived to seize an excavator allegedly being used for illegal mining. During the confrontation, two police officers were injured.
The task force eventually impounded one excavator and arrested several individuals, including a local assembly member. Calm was restored in the community the following day, August 14, 2025.