Talensi youth demand release of licensed miner Zongdan Boyak Kolog

Tensions have escalated in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region as local youth groups call for the immediate release of Zongdan Boyak Kolog, a licensed small-scale miner popularly known as Polo. His arrest on October 14, 2026, followed a dispute with the Chinese-owned Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited over a mining concession in Gbane. Protesters have also intensified their demands for the removal of the District Chief Executive (DCE), whom they accuse of siding with the foreign mining firm against indigenous operators.

The core of the dispute involves Kolog’s mining concession, which community members assert is backed by valid legal documentation. Proponents of the miner highlight that a High Court order had previously directed the Ghana Police Service to provide protection for Kolog and his operations. Despite this, reports suggest that workers at the site faced regular intimidation prior to the clashes that led to the current detentions. The police are presently holding Kolog and 15 other suspects as part of an ongoing investigation into the disturbances.

Youth groups and community organizations expressed significant concern over the lack of formal charges brought against Kolog since his arrest. They claim that the arrest is a strategic move to facilitate the takeover of his site by Earl International. The Chinese-owned company has a history of regulatory friction in the region; the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) had previously ordered a suspension of its operations due to violations. Protesters are now demanding a transparent investigation into the company’s activities and the immediate evacuation of its personnel from the disputed area.

The current standoff reflects broader tensions regarding the management of mineral resources and the protection of small-scale miners in Ghana. As investigations continue, the youth groups maintain that the removal of the DCE is necessary to restore trust in local governance. They argue that the administration has failed to protect the rights of local citizens in the face of expansion by large-scale foreign firms. The situation remains volatile as the community awaits the next legal steps regarding the 16 detainees.