Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, a diplomat and former CEO of the Volta River Authority (VRA), believes that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) did not have the authority to pursue illicit mining cases, but instead has the power to look into matters relating to corruption that had been brought to its attention, in relation to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining’s activity.
“The OSP is not charged with fighting galamsey but to fight corruption,” Mr Wereko-Brobby said and added that “we must unearth all those who are financing and fronting for foreigners.”
He claimed that in order to show its commitment to combating the problem, the State should concentrate on apprehending powerful and affluent people who fund the operations of illegal miners.
He insisted that arresting workers at illicit mining sites would not be the solution to the problem but instead, he suggested that “kingpins” who provided funds for such operations be tracked down and brought before the courts.
Mr. Wereko-Brobby asserted that the “fight against galamsey must be fought in a very honest way.”
“We made a lot of noise about Aisha Huang but what happened to her? The laws of this land are clear, small-scale mining belongs to Ghanaians. So, who are the Ghanaians, who get the licenses and invite the Chinese to front for them?
“If we are really serious about fighting galamsey, then we really ought to go hard against the local kingpins who are fronting and financing (the illegality).”
Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby
According to Mr. Wereko-Brobby, the nature of the nation’s political financing structure is one of the major obstacles preventing politicians from confronting such illegalities head-on. He inspired the young people to fight back against all forms of injustice and seek justice from the authorities, in order to secure their future.
“The political system is set up in such a way that people who want power will have to invest a lot of money. And a lot of the time, they do not have the money and patrons to sponsor their political ambition. And when they win power, the first thing they want to do is to satisfy those who helped them to get power.”
Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby
Charles Bissue Is Declared Wanted By The OSP
Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has been designated as wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Mr. Bissue’s failure to appear in response to a request from the Special Prosecutor to respond to inquiries about the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption inside the disbanded IMCIM, resulted in this declaration.
Mr. Bissue recently attempted to stop the Office of the Special Prosecutor from bringing charges against him by filing a writ at the High Court in Accra. The Special Prosecutor’s ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption involving Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the Chairman of the IMCIM, prompted this legal action.
Mr. Bissue stated in the writ that he had received a letter from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, stating that they believed him to be a necessary person for the investigation and wanted to speak with him. However, he did not honor the Special Prosecutor’s invitation.
After learning that the OSP had finished its inquiries into the allegations of corruption made against Mr. Bissue by Anas and Tiger Eye P.I. in its Half-Yearly Report, Mr. Bissue started legal action by releasing a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim against the OSP and two other parties in December 2022.
Mr. Bissue revised the writ in January 2023 and then filed an injunction to stop the OSP from looking into and prosecuting him any further. The Office of the Special Prosecutor was however granted permission to file its statement of case in opposition to the Motion.
READ ALSO: Alan Kyerematen Is ‘God Sent’- Patricia Appiagyei
