NDC Leaders in Extortion, Harassment Drama with Legal Miners

Two executive leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the national level of the Party have been explaining how and why they have their names mentioned as alleged ring leaders who give political protection to an unofficial anti-illegal mining task force that has become notorious for extortion and harassment of small scale miners in legal business in many parts of the country.

Joseph Yamin, the NDC National Organiser, and Abanga Yakubu Alhassan, the 3rd National Vice Chairman of the Party have been indicted by the Concerned Small Scale Miners Association of Ghana (CSSMAG) of being the key persons behind the activities of the unofficial task force extorting and harassing the Association’s members – an allegation the two senior NDC politicians have denied.

Chairman of CSSMAG, Andrew Abban, mentioned the names of the two NDC leaders in a press statement the Association issued last week. It said the well planned and coordinated extortion operation is being done in connivance with some operatives from the National Security office.

The statement said the extortionists are usually armed and seem fearful: “These assigns including military and police officers have been visiting some of our mining concessions and sites across the country to extort monies from some of our members.

“More worryingly, these assigns carry sophisticated weapons in full military uniforms, ransack the sites of our members and subject them to inhuman treatment including extortion of money”, it added.

The statement from CSSMAG explained that though Joseph Yamin and Abanga Yakubu Alhassan have not been seen in person at the working sites of the miners where the harassment and extortion take place, it is the names of the two NDC leaders the members of the unofficial task force mention as the persons who authorized them whenever they invade the mining sites to demand for money.

The statement noted: “some of our members in the Ashanti Region also claim that their sites are tormented by these parallel group calling themselves Anti-Galamsey Task Force. We have information that these operatives use the names of some National Democratic Congress party executives to extort monies.

“Common names that are mentioned by these parallel taskforce assigns have been Joseph Yamin, the National Organiser of the NDC and Yakubu Abanga, 3rd Vice-Chairperson of the NDC and others.

“We are therefore saddened by the activities of these illegal persons since by their activities they are succeeding in forcing our members to halt their legitimate business. Some of members, sadly have refused to go to their sites, fearing that they may be attacked by these illegal anti-galamsey taskforce”, the statement added.

CSSMAG, by the statement called on the Presidency to look into their concerns and come to their aide.

“We hereby call on the President who has since the assumption of power shown respect for our work to act decisively to halt the activities of these parallel groups.

“We also take this opportunity to commend the President for selecting for us a noble character as Minister to oversee our legitimate business.

“We however call on the Minister of Lands, Hon Armah Kofi Buah to intensify efforts in streamlining activities of the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce so that miners could feel safe in their sites and concessions

“We are hopeful that bringing these issues to the public domain, the President would tackle our concerns and together with the Minister of Lands work to address same.”

Yamin Denies & Abanga Warns

Both Joseph Yamin and Abanga Yakubu Alhassan have denied the allegations of extortion and harassment levelled against them by the Association.

“I would be the last person to sanction the activities of any illegal taskforce or group…, I have never engaged in mining, and I urge security agencies to act swiftly against individuals using my name to harass legitimate miners” Yamin told EIB’s Ashanti Regional Correspondent on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Abanga Yakubu Alhassan, on his part, issued a press statement to deny his involvement in the said extortion and harassment.

The statement read in part: “Let me place it on record, without ambiguity: I have absolutely no hand in, and I know nothing about these allegations. I challenge anyone who claims otherwise to be bold and point to me directly. If I have ever extorted money from any miner or seized any equipment, let them mention my name publicly.

Abanga Yakubu Alhassan cautioned: “This is not just about politics- it is about protecting reputations that have been built over years of service and sacrifice. I will not sit back and allow anyone to jeopardize my name with falsehoods.”