The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Atiwa East, Ernest Owusu Ntim, has dismissed allegations linking him to illegal mining activities (galamsey), calling them a deliberate attempt by offenders to tarnish his reputation.
Owusu Ntim said the claims emerged after he intensified efforts to curb galamsey and protect the district’s degraded lands.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Wednesday, December 17, he described the attacks as predictable given his firm stance against illegal miners.
“People don’t like change, and once you try to introduce something, they try to fight you. Some even went to tell my mother that when they come to the office and offer me money, I don’t take it because I am being too difficult. So, I was expecting it,” he said.
The DCE reiterated his commitment to fighting illegal mining and ensuring that lands in the district are properly reclaimed. He insisted that attempts to smear him would not deter his environmental protection efforts.
“People are not happy when you try to stop them from things they have been doing for so many years. It is normal. It is not going to stop me. Some people are simply trying to give me a bad name,” he added.
The Koforidua High Court 2 on December 15 fined Ernest Ntim GH₵15,000 for contempt of court for allegedly continuing illegal mining operations despite a pending injunction application. The court held that the DCE and members of his team were responsible for environmental destruction, including damage to farmlands and pollution of the Koben River, a key water source for several communities.
Meanwhile, Owusu Ntim has vehemently refuted claims suggesting his involvement in galamsey, insisting that his focus remains on enforcing accountability and environmental protection in Atiwa East.