Paramount Chief of Akyem Kotoku State, His Royal Majesty Oseadeeyo Dr Frimpong Manso IV, has opened up over malicious online and print publications linked to his alleged arrest and detention at the Police Headquarters in Accra for his involvement in galamsey activities.
Contrary to the staged arrest of two Chinese men on his concession at Akyem Amenam, which prompted the false reports, Oseadeeyo presented to the good people of Ghana the scared facts.
Oseadeeyo told the large gathering of Chiefs, citizens, and journalists alike that his Chester Gold Enterprise is a duly licensed mining company that has been operating in full compliance with existing regulations without blemish.
He stated that contrary to the much publicised version that Chester does illegal mining, he hinted it rather does underground mining.
Background
Chester Gold Enterprise premises was stormed by police officers on 25th July 2025, resulting in the arrest of two Chinese scientists engaged by the Company’s leadership to set up a laboratory.
Oseadeeyo Dr Frimpong Manso IV told the gathering that he was never arrested by the Police as the publications had stated. He told the teeming public that the arrest was orchestrated by men with interests in Sikadwaso Global Limited a company which was issued with a suspicious Mining Lease on January 3rd, 2025, four days to the swearing in of the Mahama led government into office.
He intimated that the issuance of the mining lease was done without consultation and concurrence with the Overlord of Akyem Kotoku State and the local communities and lacks evidence of prospecting work which further raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.
More surprisingly, the lease stretches from the buffer regions around Chester Gold to the Kwekaru Forest Reserve which hosts the sources of several streams ; a forest reserve through which river Pra flows.
Several attempts to forcefully take over the buffer zone around Chester and the Kwekaru reserve were reported to the Minerals Commission in a letter dated 13th October 2023, which he showed to the public as evidence.
He further showed reports made about the incursions of Sikadwaso Global mining in letters addressed to the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in May and June 2025.
He intimated that allowing Sikadwaso to mine in the forest would desecrate Sacred Sites which host Akyem Kotoku Deities as well as buffer zones protecting the Pra River.
Oseedeayo expressed worry over inclusion of concessions reserved for the natives to undertake small scale mining which has now been given to Sikadwaso thus denying them from benefiting from their own land, while guaranteeing benefits for foreign interests, is a clear case of injustice and discrimination.
He asked Ghanaians more Kotoku folks to forge heads and step forward to fight what are rightfully theirs and not wait for foreigners to take them and give them crumbs.
Akwanserahene OF Akyem Kotoku State queried the media for failing to do checks with managers of Chester Gold Enterprise; one wrong move that has cast doubt on their professionalism and ethics.
