Wassa East: NDC Security Coordinator Denies Allegations of Extorting Money from Galamsey Operators

Speaking on the issue, Mr. Opiah Mensah dismissed the allegations as false and malicious, stressing that he is a law-abiding citizen and the least likely person to engage in any activity that undermines President John Dramani Mahama’s strong commitment to environmental protection and the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

The Wassa East District Security Coordinator of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western Region, Mr. Daniel Opiah Mensah, popularly known as O.P, has firmly denied claims that he extorted money from illegal small-scale miners operating within the Subri Forest Range Reserve and other mining sites in the district.

Speaking on the matter in an interview with Soireenews, Mr. Opiah Mensah described the allegations as false and malicious, insisting that he is a law-abiding citizen who would be the last person to engage in activities that undermine President John Dramani Mahama’s firm stance on environmental protection and the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

“I have nothing to hide. I do not benefit from galamsey in any form. I am not personally involved in illegal mining, and I have no interest in it. We are all on the same side in the fight against this menace,” he stated.

Mr. Opiah Mensah challenged his accusers to come forward publicly with evidence to substantiate their claims, stressing that no individual can point to any instance where he demanded or received money from illegal miners in the district.

He further pledged a “ruthless war” against illegal mining and called on residents, traditional authorities, and opinion leaders in Wassa East to support government efforts to protect forest reserves and water bodies from destruction.

The Security Coordinator disclosed that his decision to lead a Wassa East District Security Taskforce to an illegal mining site within the Subri Forest Range Reserve at Nsadweso was lawfully sanctioned by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr. Alhassan Ibrahim.

According to him, a district security taskforce has been constituted and is currently working closely with the NDC government to combat illegal activities, including galamsey, across the district.

Mr. Opiah Mensah explained that on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the DCE personally called him to inform him that some illegal miners were operating within the Subri Forest Range Reserve at Nsadweso and directed him to organise a taskforce to stop the activity.

“Before moving to the site, we went to the DCE’s office as instructed. The operation was therefore lawful and authorised,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that he arrogated power to himself to lead the operation, insisting that his role as District Security Coordinator empowered him to act on such directives.

According to Mr. Opiah Mensah, after the taskforce successfully moved the miners out of the site, some of the miners confronted the team to question their authority. He explained to them that the operation was sanctioned by the DCE in line with government policy against mining in forest reserves and water bodies.

He further alleged that shortly after this encounter, the NDC Wassa East Constituency Organiser, Mr. Kwaku Agyapong, called him to question the authority under which he led the taskforce to the site.

“I told him that he was aware of my position as the District Security Coordinator and that the DCE had officially assigned the taskforce, led by me, to carry out the operation,” Mr. Opiah Mensah stated.

He claimed that Mr. Agyapong later declared that he personally owned the illegal mining site at the Subri Forest Range Reserve at Nsadweso and questioned why he had not been informed before the operation was carried out.

Mr. Opiah Mensah said he advised the constituency organiser to verify the taskforce’s presence at the site with the DCE, who authorised the operation.

However, he alleged that Mr. Agyapong later called him back to claim that the DCE had denied any knowledge of the operation. Mr. Opiah Mensah said he was surprised by this development and immediately contacted the DCE for clarification.

According to him, the DCE denied receiving any call from Mr. Agyapong and reiterated that the taskforce should ensure all illegal miners were driven away from the site before leaving.

Mr. Opiah Mensah further alleged that following direct instructions from Mr. Agyapong, some of the illegal miners refused to vacate the site and threatened the lives of the taskforce members.

He claimed that the miners, allegedly working for Mr. Agyapong, became violent, leading to a heated confrontation between them and the taskforce.

The situation, he said, escalated to the point where the Assembly Member for the Nsadweso Electoral Area and some residents had to intervene to prevent further disturbances.