Former Environment Minister, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has issued a strong response to the Attorney General’s Office, following their recent request for “hard evidence” concerning allegations made in his report on illegal mining activities in the country.
Last week, the AG’s office cast doubt on the validity of the accusations detailed in Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s report, suggesting that it lacked the necessary evidence to prosecute those implicated.
In spirited rebuttal, the former Minister defended his role as the Chairman of a Committee tasked with compiling a comprehensive report on illegal mining operations in the nation. He questioned what the Attorney General meant by “hard evidence,” asserting that his report contained ample supporting information, including written documents, videos, and pictures.
During a recent interview, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng emphasized that he is not an investigative agent; rather, he fulfilled his role as the committee’s chairman by presenting a detailed report. He urged the Attorney General’s Office to conduct their own investigations to verify the report’s accuracy.
“I am not an investigative agent, that is not my job. I was a chairman of a committee and I wrote a report, so you [as an Attorney General] have to go round and see whether what I am saying is true or otherwise,” he said.
The former Environment Minister also expressed grave concerns about the current state of illegal mining, “galamsey.” He asserted that the situation had deteriorated since his report’s publication, indicating that the AG’s office could easily obtain the required evidence by visiting the areas in the country’s forests where these activities are taking place.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng pointed out that numerous government officials, including regional ministers, District Chief Executives (DCEs), Members of Parliament (MPs), and law enforcement personnel, are stationed throughout Ghana and should be able to witness the ongoing illegal mining operations.
“We have regional Ministers, DCEs, MPs, police personnel, Customs and Forestry Commission personnel scattered across Ghana, are they not seeing these things? If you go there, you’ll get your evidence,” he insisted.
He charged the Attorney General’s Office to take action and collect the necessary evidence by conducting on-the-ground investigations in these affected areas.