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A dispute over illegal mining (galamsey) negotiations has erupted in Jogboi, Savannah Region, after a local contractor, known only as Carpenter Kooro, allegedly diverted community funds meant for development projects.
The controversy began when a company, represented by a man identified as Mr Nii, approached the Jogboi community through Carpenter Kooro and Nnaa Solomon Dompeeh, brother of Dr Gyinde. At a general meeting attended by all clans and elders, Mr Nii promised to build a chief’s palace, provide GHS 60,000 as seed money, and pay GHS 10,000 monthly until construction was completed.
The community accepted the offer in good faith. After the initial GHS 60,000 was handed to Carpenter Kooro for safekeeping, he allegedly distributed only GHS 15,000 to selected clans, excluded the Biafong clan, and kept the remaining GHS 45,000. Mr Nii later told the community that the funds were meant solely for development and that Carpenter Kooro had no entitlement to any portion.
Months passed without the promised palace or monthly payments. When summoned, Mr Nii revealed that Carpenter Kooro had demanded a vehicle from the Regional Minister and that an unregistered car, purchased with community money, was now in Kooro’s possession. He confirmed that the remaining GHS 60,000 and at least six months of the GHS 10,000 payments had been collected by Kooro.
In response, the Jogboi community passed a resolution barring further payments to Carpenter Kooro and set up a Community Committee to receive any future funds directly from Mr Nii. Despite the directive, Kooro allegedly continued to collect money from Mr Nii without community consent.
The community subsequently filed a petition for fraudulent breach of trust and misappropriation of funds, copying the Traditional Council, regional and district authorities, and the National Peace Council. Although the petition was widely circulated, no official response was received from the Traditional Council or security agencies. Father Lazarus of the National Peace Council visited Jogboi, but the Registrar of the North Mo Traditional Council could not locate the letter, and the Acting President of the Council claimed no knowledge of it.
With the matter still unresolved, the Jogboi community says it retains documentary evidence and witnesses to support its claims and warns that the grievance remains unresolved despite public claims of peace.
STATEMENT OF EVENTS CONCERNING GALAMSEY DEALINGS AT JOGBOI COMMUNITY, SAVANNAH REGION
This statement is made to formally bring to the attention of the appropriate traditional and state authorities the serious misconduct that occurred in the Jogboi community involving illegal mining (“galamsey”) negotiations and the misappropriation of community funds.
A company, represented by a man known as Mr. Nii, was brought to the Jogboi community through Carpenter Kooro, Nnaa Solomon Dompeeh (brother of Dr. Gyinde), for the purpose of discussing possible involvement in galamsey activities in the Jogboi area. Carpenter Kooro presented himself as a member of the community, and not as a chief. A general community meeting was convened at Jogboi, at which all clans and elders were present.
During the meeting, the community demanded to know what benefits would accrue to Jogboi if the company were allowed to operate. Mr. Nii promised the following:
1. To build a chief’s palace for Jogboi
2. To give GHS 60,000 to the community as seed funds
3. To provide monthly payments of GHS 10,000 to the community until construction work was completed
The community accepted the proposal in good faith. Mr. Nii subsequently released GHS 60,000 and, upon the community’s instruction, the money was handed to Carpenter Kooro solely for the purpose of delivering it intact to the Jogboi community.
Upon receipt of the money, Carpenter Kooro distributed only GHS 15,000 among selected clans. Notably, the Biafong clan was deliberately excluded, and instead he diverted funds to a person of his own choosing, whom he falsely presented as the head of the Biafong clan. The remaining GHS 45,000 was taken away by Carpenter Kooro and was never accounted for to the community.
Mr. Nii made it clear to the community that the money was strictly meant for community development and that Carpenter Kooro was not entitled to any portion, as he had separate private arrangements with him.
After several months, the community realised that the promised chief’s palace had not been constructed and that the monthly GHS 10,000 payments were not reaching the community.
The community summoned Mr. Nii to explain the situation. He disclosed that all funds were being handled by Carpenter Kooro; that Carpenter Kooro had demanded a vehicle from the Regional Minister and insisted that the company purchase a car for him using funds originally intended to build the palace and support the community; and that an unregistered vehicle was subsequently purchased and handed to Carpenter Kooro, which he is currently using.
Mr. Nii further confirmed before the Jogboi community that the remaining portion of the GHS 60,000 was in Carpenter Kooro’s possession and that the monthly GHS 10,000 payments (at least six months’ worth) had also been fully collected by Carpenter Kooro.
Following this revelation, the Jogboi community passed a resolution that no further funds should be handed to Carpenter Kooro and established a Community Committee to be responsible for receiving any further community funds directly from Mr. Nii.
Despite this instruction, Carpenter Kooro secretly continued to collect money from Mr. Nii without the knowledge or consent of the community.
As a result, the Jogboi community formally prepared and dispatched a petition for fraudulent breach of trust and misappropriation of community funds. The petition was addressed to the Traditional Council and copied to the following authorities:
President, Savannah Regional House of Chiefs
Gonjah Traditional Council
Savannah Regional Minister
Savannah Regional Police Commander
Regional BNI Commander
District Police Commander
District BNI Commander
National Peace Council
In furtherance of the earlier complaint, the Jogboi community states as follows:
The original petition was widely copied and served on the following additional authorities:
District Chief Executive (Bole)
Station Officer, Bamboi Police
BNI – Bamboi
Carpenter Kooro
North Mo Traditional Council (through the Registrar)
Despite this wide circulation, no official response was received from the Traditional Council or the relevant state security agencies.
The only person who responded was Father Lazarus of the National Peace Council, who personally visited Jogboi to calm tensions within the community. During his visit, he proceeded to the office of the Registrar of the North Mo Traditional Council to confirm receipt of the petition. The Registrar acknowledged receipt but stated that he could not locate the letter and did not know its whereabouts.
Father Lazarus then proceeded, together with the Registrar, to the Acting President of the Council, Nnaa Akagbon Kintor II (also known as Chibrinyua Kooro). The Acting President stated that he had no knowledge of the petition. When both returned to the Registrar to inquire further, the Registrar was unable to account for the document. He further questioned why the petition had not been brought directly to him and to the Acting President, but could not explain the disappearance of the letter.
Due to the lack of response and administrative follow-up, the matter remains unresolved.
Father Lazarus subsequently advised the community to submit a formal reminder letter, copying all relevant authorities, including the Acting President and the Registrar, in order to trigger proper administrative action. Despite this advice, and despite subsequent engagements with the new Registrar, no formal response or investigation has been communicated to the Jogboi community to date.
The community confirms that it retains documentary evidence and witnesses in support of all allegations, including proof of missing funds and unfulfilled development promises.
Contrary to public claims of peace, the community wishes to place it on record that there remains serious grievance, dissatisfaction, and lack of resolution in Jogboi arising from these events.
This statement is made in good faith and is intended solely for lawful reporting, investigation, and redress.
Story By ; Isaac Krah Nsiah?
Savannah Region
