Baba Jamal Konneh, Deputy Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations at the Cocoa Marketing Company, has withdrawn allegations linking Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah to illegal mining and issued an apology.
The retraction follows a GH¢30 million defamation suit filed by Mr Oppong Nkrumah at the High Court in Accra after Mr Konneh allegedly accused him of involvement in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The allegations were made during a discussion on Okay FM on February 13, 2026, where Mr Konneh claimed the former Information Minister had brought Chinese nationals into the Akyemansa District to engage in illegal mining that destroyed cocoa farms.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah denied the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory, and subsequently initiated legal action seeking GH¢20 million in general damages and GH¢10 million in aggravated and exemplary damages.
In a written retraction dated June 26, 2026, Mr Konneh acknowledged that he should not have made the allegations.
“Reference is made to a statement I made on Okay FM 101.7 FM during a discussion concerning cocoa pricing and illegal mining, popularly referred to as ‘galamsey’. In the course of my remarks, I alleged that Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was involved in illegal mining in his district,” he stated.
Mr Konneh said he was fully withdrawing the allegations.
“I acknowledge that I ought not to have made those allegations. Accordingly, I hereby fully withdraw and retract any statement, words, reference, or impression arising from my remarks,” the statement said.
He also apologised to the Ofoase-Ayirebi legislator.
“I sincerely apologize to Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah for any inconvenience, distress, or injury to reputation that may have arisen from my remarks,” he added.
Mr Konneh said the retraction was made in good faith and disclosed that he had returned to Okay FM—the platform on which the allegations were made—to publicly withdraw the claims and apologise.
In his suit, Mr Oppong Nkrumah argued that the allegations falsely portrayed him as being involved in criminal activity and corruption, causing reputational damage and exposing him to public ridicule.
In addition to the GH¢30 million in damages, the MP sought a perpetual injunction restraining Mr Konneh from repeating the allegations and requested that the court order a full and unconditional apology with similar prominence to the original publication.
He also sought the removal of the alleged defamatory content from radio archives, websites, blogs and social media platforms under Mr Konneh’s control or influence.
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