UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
BY: ATUIMAH VALERIUS
A powerful voice of discontent emerged from the “Concerned Youth Against Injustices in the Mining Sector in the Upper East Region of Ghana,” who held a press conference to accuse the Regional Police Commander, Mr. Raymond Wejong Ali Adofiem, of widespread abuse of office. The group alleges that Commander Adofiem is actively shielding criminals and implicating innocent citizens, specifically targeting Master Pollo, a respected small-scale miner and philanthropist.
According to the Concerned Youth, Commander Adofiem has consistently undermined a High Court order that granted Master Pollo the right to operate his Nalamtaaba concession. They claim the Commander deliberately withheld necessary security, and when Master Pollo sought protection from a private security firm, Sherlock Security Company, Adofiem allegedly intervened to send them away, promising his own protection which never materialized.
The accusations escalated dramatically on May 31, 2025, when, under what was believed to be the Commander’s sanction, Master Pollo’s representatives went to his concession to register workers. The youth group alleges that instead of facilitating the lawful activity, Commander Adofiem dispatched police officers who brutalized and arrested these representatives without cause. A deeply concerning claim from the group is the suspicion that an AK-47 rifle was “maliciously planted” in Master Pollo’s home to fabricate criminal charges, despite him reportedly only possessing a legally registered pump-action gun.
Further compounding the grievances, Master Pollo himself was arrested on June 4, 2025, and has since been denied bail without legitimate charges. The Concerned Youth unequivocally assert this to be a “malicious setup” and an abuse of power, directly linked to a prior petition Master Pollo filed against Commander Adofiem. They report having credible information that Commander Adofiem has vowed to make Master Pollo’s life “a living hell.”
The youth group directly implicated the Regional Police Commander in colluding with illegal miners and certain traditional authorities, accusing him of protecting their unlawful activities while actively undermining legitimate businesses. They warn that this trajectory poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
In a fervent appeal, the Concerned Youth called upon the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately launch a “full and transparent investigation” into Commander Adofiem’s conduct. Their demands are clear:
- A thorough investigation by the IGP into the Upper East Regional Police Commander, followed by appropriate actions.
- The media to “unravel and report the full facts” to the Ghanaian public.
- Nalamtaaba Enterprise to be provided with “adequate security” to operate its concession without interference.
The group concluded with a stern warning, stating that their patience has “exhausted” and that “plans are far advanced with other youth groups across the region to organize massive protests and demonstrations against Commander Adofiem’s actions next week.” They vowed to relentlessly pursue justice for Master Pollo and the restoration of the rule of law within the Upper East Region’s mining sector, emphasizing: “Justice for one is justice for all!”
