The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on independent institutions to investigate the contents of a report on galamsey, which was presented by the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Professor Frimpong Boateng. The report had alleged illegal small-scale mining in Ghana was rife with high ranking members of the governing party were deep-neck in galamsey, but the Office of the President dismissed the claims, stating they were unfounded and amounted to hearsay.
However, the President’s dismissal of the report has raised serious concerns among members of the largest opposition party in the country. The minority group in Parliament has also expressed disappointment over the government’s reluctance to take action against high-ranking members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the government who were named in Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s report.
Dr. Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, the Ranking Member for Lands and Forestry Committee in Parliament and MP for Wa Central, reiterated the Minority’s concerns at a news conference held in Wa, the Upper West Regional Capital. He emphasised the need for the government to demonstrate its commitment to the fight against galamsey by holding its own members accountable for their actions.
The Upper East Regional Communication Officer, Jonathan Abdallah, has also added his voice to the condemnation of the presidency, stating that independent organisations like CHRAJ, the OSP, and Parliament should investigate the matter. He criticised the President’s referral of the case to the CID for investigations, stating that the President is always trying to sweep things under the carpet, and that there has not been a positive report on any of the cases referred to the CID.
“Even the president himself has once again been cited in this report to be, more or less, somebody who supports the galamsey menace. We are asking that we get some independent organisations like CHRAJ, the OSP, and Parliament to investigate this matter. That is the only way we can get to the bottom of it. But you see, the President is always trying to push things under the carpet, and he has once again referred this case to the CID for investigations. I can’t remember any of the cases the president has referred to the CID that we have had a positive report on or a report that goes contrary to what the president wants,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
