The Opposition National Democratic Congress has labelled a leaked report on the activities of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining as “an obituary of President Akufo-Addo’s monumentally failed fight against illegal mining”.
The party at a press conference today, has been chronicling various highlights of the report to support its claim that the fight against illegal mining was not a genuine one from the very outset.
Citing the decision by both the Lands Ministry and the Forestry Commission to grant mining and entry permits into Ghana’s forest reserves in 2018 when there was still an active ban on all forms of large and small-scale mining activities in the country, the NDC argued that the government’s fight against the illegal mining menace was a ruse to enable some persons in both government and party to appropriate the illicit trade for themselves.
Addressing the press at its ‘Moment of Truth Series’, the National Communication Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, named officials at the seat of government whom he alleges, were cited in the 37-page report to have acted in ways that promoted illegal mining activities in some parts of the country.
Of particular reference were Laud Commey, Director of Operations at the Presidency, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, Special Aide to the Chief of Staff and one Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, a Presidential Staffer, who have been faulted by the report for one wrong or the other.
The party also called out legal practitioner and nephew of President Akufo-Addo, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, for placing a call to former Environment Minister, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, and engaging in what they termed influence peddling, when he sought to defend the work of his client, one Donald Entsuah over the activities of Heritage Imperial Mining Limited in the Diaso, Kobro and Apaprama forest reserves.
The party chided the President’s nephew for defending wrong-doing and urged Ghanaians to condemn his conduct.
A recent 37-page leaked report on the activities of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has placed on the front burner, various issues that have plagued Government’s fight against illegal mining, leading to the eventual dissolution of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
The NDC believes there is some collusion among high-profile government and New Patriotic Party officials who have been complicit in promoting the activities of illegal mining for their own benefit, hence the failed fight.
The party has therefore called on the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Adjabeng and Parliament to activate a full-blown probe into the report into to establish the truth and punish all who are found culpable.
Latest Stories
-
AFPNC leads the charge on World Prematurity Day 2024
5 mins -
Court remands unemployed man over theft of ECG property
11 mins -
Election security rests solely with the police – Central Regional Police Command
13 mins -
NCCE engages political youth activists at Kumbungu on tolerance
14 mins -
‘In Mahama’s era students lacked chalk, but are now receiving tablets’ – Bawumia
24 mins -
Project commissioning not a ploy to attract votes – Oppong Nkrumah
25 mins -
CBG records GH¢1bn revenue in Q3
28 mins -
Mahama vows to create an agro-processing zone in Afram Plains
42 mins -
Political parties should plan for losses, not just wins – IGP advises
43 mins -
524 Diasporan Africans granted Ghanaian citizenship in ceremony
45 mins -
Mahama urges Afram Plains North residents to avoid ‘skirt and blouse’ voting
47 mins -
Asantehene receives more 19th century gold ornament and regalia
54 mins -
Hohoe Ghana Blind Union organises training for members ahead of Election 2024
1 hour -
Alan Kyerematen reveals his future plans for Ghanaian Health professionals
1 hour -
AAIN empowers women and small enterprises in Upper East Region through SHINE project
1 hour