United Party Director of Operations, Hopeson Adorye, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to immediately dismiss the District Chief Executive for Amansie Central, Emmanuel Obeng Agyeman, warning that failure to act could erode the public goodwill the President is currently enjoying.
According to him, decisive action is necessary to protect the credibility of the government following revelations contained in a recent JoyNews investigation into alleged corruption linked to illegal mining activities in the district.
Speaking on JoyNews on February 10, Hopeson Adorye directly appealed to the President, saying, “Mr President, the goodwill you’re enjoying today, if you want it to to continue, this amansie central dce, fire him immediately.”
He added that even if the DCE is considered deserving of another appointment, he should not remain in the district.
“If he has helped the party to the point that he needs appointment, take him to another place. For that district, fire him. That is my request.”
Mr. Adorye’s comments follow the broadcast of a JoyNews Hotline documentary titled “A Tax for Galamsey” on February 9, 2026, which exposed an alleged extortion and protection scheme surrounding illegal mining in the Amansie Central District.
The investigation revealed that illegal miners were allegedly required to pay regular fees to operate without interference, with charges reportedly amounting to about GH₵6,000 annually per changfang machine and up to GH₵30,000 for each excavator.
Undercover footage also showed Assembly staff issuing official receipts and so-called “warrant stickers” that reportedly guaranteed protection for illegal mining operations.
Further findings indicated the existence of a parallel financial system, with funds allegedly traced to private residences, rural bank accounts, and the District Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund.
The documentary also captured the DCE on record admitting to overseeing documentation that validated these operations, which he described as a revenue-generation exercise.
Following the exposé, several civil society organisations condemned the alleged activities.
The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the DCE, while the Media Foundation for West Africa argued that he should not remain in office for more than 24 hours after the revelations.
However, the Amansie Central District Assembly rejected claims of a “galamsey tax,” maintaining that the collection of fees from earth-moving equipment is a long-standing administrative practice that dates back to 2008.
