Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former chairman of the defunct Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has claimed to stand wholeheartedly by his report submitted to President Akufo-Addo in 2021.
The former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology in an interview averred that he stands by everything in the controversial report on illegal mining.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng on April 20 caused a stir in the country, when a report he authored on illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’ was leaked to the media. However, he claimed to not have been responsible for its leakage as he had no intentions of such.
The report indicted a couple of NPP officials for engaging in illegal mining activities.
Among the persons mentioned in the report included a leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Director of Communications at the Presidency; Lord Commey, Information Minister; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and a host of others. All the persons mentioned have denied the allegations.
Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko however, sued Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, following allegations the latter made against the former, in the galamsey report authored in 2021. In a legal suit filed at the High Court, Gabby Otchere-Darko is demanding a sum of GH¢10,000,000 from the former minister in damages. He also demands an apology and retraction from Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. Speaking in an interview, Gabby Otchere-Darko claimed the former Minister’s accusations are a wrongful twist of facts for reasons best known to him.
However, speaking on the report for the first time, the renowned Heart Surgeon said he had to be brutally honest with the President and all others indicted in his report. Professor Frimpong-Boateng also denied leaking the report to the public.
According to Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the report was handed over to personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) during investigations on some missing excavators.
“I didn’t write the report for Ghanaians to talk about it. It has been two years since the report was authored. I didn’t leak it. After I was granted an interview with GTV, some CID officials visited me to investigate some comments I made in the interview concerning some excavators. I then handed over the report to them. “I am not saying the CID officials leaked the report but I gave them the report to aid with their investigations and that was the end.”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng
Frimpong-Boateng Agrees To Honor Summons
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has been summoned by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to help in investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses, within the mining sector.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng issued a press release, upon receiving the letter of summons and expressed acknowledgement of the invitation.
“Earlier today, I received a letter from the Office of the Special Prosecutor inviting me to assist the Office, as a person necessary for the investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng also disclosed that he has formally communicated his willingness to honour the invitation. “I have formally communicated my willingness to attend the invitation and to support the OSP in its work,” he averred.
The bombshell ‘galamsey’ report authored by Prof Frimpong-Boateng has now been taken up by the OSP, after investigations of its authenticity was carried out by various private organizations.
