Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, has called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor, CHRAJ, the CID and other statutory investigative bodies with the capacity of reviewing the reports made by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng authored a report on request by the Chief of Staff. The former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, accused some bigwigs in government for their involvemment in illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as ‘Galamsey’ and also served as a form of interference to the work of the committee, tasked to fight the menace.
Dr. Ashigbey in an interview expressed how worried he was, as to nothing being done, even after the report was published, while claiming it was an unacceptable act on the government’s behalf.
“Criminality has been alleged by Professor Frimpong-Boateng and you know in our country, all of those mentioned are innocent, until proven guilty. We will expect the various bodies who will be able to do it, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Police CID,…these are issues CHRAJ can look into.
“I’m hoping that the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will also be reviewing the report. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must ask the police to look into it, so I’m hoping that all of these people will act.”
Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey
Professor Albert Joseph Quarm, the former Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta, however, denied all allegations of his involvement in any form of illegal mining activity, as stated by the report.
According to the report, the MP allegedly used his position as a member of the Minerals Commission to acquire several dozens of large-scale concessions in his district, ostensibly for community mining purposes. In addition to it, the report stated ardently that the former MP sold the concessions to private individuals, including party members for two hundred thousand Cedis (Ghc200,000) per concession.
However, Prof. Joseph Quarm, reacting to these allegations, dared the former Minister to provide any form of evidence to back his claims.
“This is most unfortunate and this is a total lie. I do not own a concession and while I don’t own a concession, how can I sell a concession? To me, once he has not accepted that the report is from him, I can’t say much but if the report is from him, then for a mining concession, there must be documents covering it bearing my name.
“I don’t even own a pin of a concession, let alone several…I don’t have any concessions. If he confirms that it is from him, I will let my lawyers write to him to demand retraction and apology, and I will advise myself.”
Professor Albert Joseph Quarm
Moreover, Charles Bissue, a former Secretary for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, expressed disappointment at the timing of the release of the report. He argued that the revelations would have served the nation better in 2019, following the report by Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye P.I. “I’m disappointed in him for releasing the report now,” Charles Bissue opined.
Frimpong-Boateng’s ‘Bombshell’ Galamsey Report
A signed 37-page report by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, disclosed that some NPP bigwigs engaged the services of Chinese nationals to engage in ‘galamsey’, on their behalf.
“Throughout our struggle with illegalities in the small-scale mining sector, what baffled me was the total disregard of the President’s commitment to protect the environment. I can state without any equivocation that many party officials from the National to the unit committee level, had their friends, PAs, agents, relatives, financiers or relatives engaged in illegal mining.
“Most of them engaged Chinese working for them. I am not referring to party people who had their legitimate concession and were mining sustainably, as they were instructed to do. There are appointees in the Jubilee House that are doing or supporting illegal mining or interfering with the fight against the menace.”
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng
The report provided information on an NPP MP in the Ashanti Region, who used his position as a member of the Minerals Commission to acquire several dozens of large-scale concessions in his district, ostensibly for community mining purposes.
“This infuriated the party in the constituency…So during the 2020 primaries to select a candidate, the electorate voted against the sitting MP, who was more resourced than other candidates. Although there were allegations that he “camped” delegates and attempted to bribe them, he lost to a lesser-known individual, who did not have any financial muscle.”
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng
READ ALSO: Accusing me, others for Akufo-Addo’s recklessness ridiculous– John Mahama
