Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng says he is not surprised with the response of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice on his report on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
According to Prof Frimpong-Boateng, who chaired the erstwhile Committee set up to fight illegal mining, even the Office of the President had referred to the report as “a catalogue of personal grievances” and the claims therein described as “unfounded” and “amounted to hearsay”.
The respected heart surgeon, therefore, said, “I would have been extremely surprised if AG’s opinion had been otherwise.”
He roped in Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, particularly about his remarks about galamsey in the past, pointing out: “I guess to the Attorney General, the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II was also wrong and had no evidence when he said politicians and powerful businessmen are behind the wanton destruction of lands and water bodies, as reported by Ohemeng Tawiah on MyJoyOnline on 26th October 2022.”
This comes after the AG’s advice on the review of the police docket on his report was made known.
The AG had concluded that there was not enough evidence backing the allegations contained in the 36-page report.
It said aside statements by one Seth Mantey and some bank statements which provide relevant information in respect of allegations against the Peace FM reporter, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi, none of the documents presented by Prof Frimpong-Boateng provided any relevant information in support of the allegations contained in his report.
The Attorney-General indicates that a careful study of the Report, the various documents and pen drives submitted to the Police did not disclose any evidence in support of the allegations made against the persons cited in the Report, with the exception of Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi, in respect of whom the A-G instructs the Police to conclude their investigations and present a report to him.
The AG, therefore, concluded in its review that “in the absence of any evidence on the docket in support of any of the allegations of illegal mining activities, we are unable to recommend the prosecution of any of the persons cited in the Report”.
“They should therefore be discharged. We, however, await the outcome of the investigations conducted in the case involving Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi.”
For Prof Frimpong-Boateng, the AG should continue to play the ostrich and assume there are no New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, government appointees nor Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining.
“We can all close our eyes and bagatellize the destruction of the environment and its biodiversity, but the reality of these criminal actions by people who have no conscience and love for the country will be evident in the near future if not soon.”