Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has responded to the Minister of Information, regarding the latter’s reply to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
“Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Prof Boateng’s public spirited works and as an inspirational citizen. I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me, precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him.”
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
After that report was leaked, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah felt disappointed and denied the claims made in the March 19, 2021 report, describing them as “false”. He, however, forgave the good old professor.
However, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said it was “normal” for Mr Oppong Nkrumah to deny the allegations. He said very few people in such positions will own up to wrongdoings. “I have good advice for you, though,” the respected heart surgeon stated.
“When I was part of the government, we were colleagues and I related to you as such. Now I will advise you as my son, just as I do my children. After all you are the same age as my 4th born son. When I returned to Ghana from Germany to start the cardiothoracic project, you were just 6 years old as my 4th child. I will not lie to you or insult you or be harsh on you. My advice is, always remember that political power is both short–lived and effervescent.”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng
The Chairman of the erstwhile IMCIM also revealed current activity of galamsey, close to the hometown of the Information Minister.
“I don’t want to believe that what the person said about your role is true. The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep…investigate it and take appropriate action.”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng
Small-scale Miners Defend S.K. Boafo
General Secretary of the Small-Scale Miners Association, Godwin Armah, refuted claims by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng that the Chairman of the Minerals Commission Board, S.K. Boafo, interfered in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Mr. Armah indicated that the association was not surprised at some of the names captured in the galamsey report, authored by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng but explained that the mention of the Minerals Commission’s Board Chairman, may have stemmed from the illegality he stopped the IMCIM from perpetuating.
“When this report came out, we were not surprised as miners, the reason being that some of the names mentioned, we have been hearing all the time on the field.”
Godwin Armah
Mr. Armah further disclosed that the association at a point was working with a joint steering committee for small-scale mining at the Minerals Commission where members raised concerns about their mining concessions being forcefully taken by the IMCIM to be used for community mining without the proper documentation and so S.K. Boafo had to step in which resulted in confusion.
“There was serious confusion between the Minerals Commission and the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining on the issue of the community mining scheme but now with engagement with the Ministry and then the small-scale miners association with the Minerals Commission, it has been streamlined, and now we have a document which state how the community mining should be done and that it should be in accordance with the Minerals and Mining Act. So, that is why you have this SK Boafo issue in the report.
“They [Minerals Commission] insisted that as an agency, they will not sit for illegality to be perpetuated by the Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining in terms of getting people’s concession encroached because the owners of the concessions can come and sue the government.”
Godwin Armah
Portions of Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s report indicated that the Lands Ministry became hostile to the community mining programme, shortly after it was commissioned by President Akufo-Addo and was later backed by S.K. Boafo, making it difficult for the Chairman of the Minerals Commission Board to do its work.
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