The Minority in Parliament has called for a probe into the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Solomon Kusi Brako.
This follows revelations that some of the miners who claimed the MCE took money from them later directed the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat to their site to burn their equipment.
According to the Minority caucus, the Akyem Oda MCE engaged in ultra vires.
Following reports, the MCE held a press conference where he confirmed that the Municipal Finance Officer collected the money as “legal fines”.
Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, in a press statement signed revealed that the minority is shocked by the MCE’s admission that illegal miners were fined various sums of money for mining illegally.
Jerry Ahmed Shaib, in the statement, stated, “Why will the President’s representative in Akyem Oda defend the imposition of fines for illegal mining, with all its devastating effects, and compromise the President’s supposedly avowed interest in fighting galamsey?”
“Does the MCE possess the prerogative to collect fines?” it queried, citing the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), which vests the power to impose and collect fines solely in the courts.
“We in the Minority can now say of a fact that the MCE is engaged in ultra vires,” the statement added.
They also noted that official records from the Birim Central Assembly also contradict the MCE’s claims, adding that while the MCE said GH₵55,000 was collected as fines from illegal miners, the Assembly’s 2026 Budget presentation reported total revenue from fines for 2025 as just GH₵12,813.
“If this payment was indeed legitimate and properly receipted, why does it not appear in the Assembly’s official financial report?” the statement asked, describing the discrepancy as evidence of “possible misappropriation.”
“The government must take decisive and transparent action to restore public confidence and prove that the fight against galamsey is not mere rhetoric but a genuine national priority,” the statement concluded.
“We call on the relevant state agencies, particularly the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Ministry of Local Government, to immediately initiate a probe into the conduct of the Birim Central MCE and officials involved,” the statement signed by Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaibu, concluded.
Meanwhile, the MCE, Birim Central Solomon Brako Kusi, has boldly declared his willingness to be investigated for any alleged galamsey activities.
The MCE for Birim Central is quoted by StarrFM to have stated, I’m ready to be investigated for any alleged galamsey activities”.