Nii Ayikoi Otoo, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, has urged the government to adopt the recommendations made in the Galamsey report on illicit small-scale mining, which was written by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
He claimed that because galamsey affects every member of society, every legal tool at our disposal must be used to combat the problem. “Take the report and use it as leads,” he said.
He further described the arrest of Prof Frimpong-Boateng as bizarre, ‘the complainant-turned-accused’. “It is a little bit bizarre,” Mr Ayikoi stressed.
“Frimpong-Boateng makes a lot of allegations about individuals in the powerhouse in his report and the OSP has told us he is interested. The report shows his frustrations and the support that he couldn’t get in fighting galamsey; if there is something to be done why won’t you focus on the report…and now the complainant has been arrested and granted bail. It is diversionary, that is my view.”
Nii Ayoooo Otoo
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, who is also a well-known heart surgeon, was subject to an investigation after accepting the Office’s offer a few weeks earlier. He was invited for his report on the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), which focused on corruption and actions related to it.
Additionally, he was detained for his alleged role in the disappearance of 500 excavators and Symphony Limited, his son’s business, engaging in illicit mining. He then received a Ghc2 million bail right away.
OSP Needs Our 100% Support To Do Its Work Without Fear Or Favour
According to economist and political risk analyst, Dr. Theo Acheampong, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is effective at holding public officials responsible.
Therefore, Dr. Acheampong has urged unwavering support so that the office can carry out its duties without fear or favor.
“We must all 100% support the OSP to do its work without fear or favour!!! He’s doing a good job,” he tweeted.
According to the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, no one is an angel to the OSP when it comes to fighting corruption.
He declared that the OSP will pursue anyone believed to have committed acts of corruption.
“Mind you, at the Office of the Special Prosecutor we do not consecrate Saints. No one is a saint to us, no one is an angel as far as we are concerned. When we start investigating a case we are looking at everybody. You personally, as a member of the public may have your favorite, you may have those you think are so good and so consecrated saints that they become almost untouchable.
“I wish I were you to also have the luxury to consecrate some persons as saints in respect of which nothing should be done to them. But where I sit I do not have that luxury to treat people as saints and when saints are being consecrated I don’t get the MEMO.”
Special Prosecutor
Prof Frimpong-Boateng who is also a renowned heart surgeon has been put under investigation following an invitation given to him by the Office weeks ago.
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