KOJO OPPONG NKRUMAH INDICTED IN GALAMSEY MENACE BY PROFESSOR FRIMPONG-BOATENG
In a leaked video tape circulating on social media showing an underground mining site, the Minister for Information who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Ofoase Ayirebi Consituency in the Eastern Region is alleged to be the owner of a site where illegal mining activities are taking place.
In the said video a man is heard speaking in the background, alleging that, that particular concession belongs to the MP of the the Constituency, to-wit Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah who is part of the big wigs of the governing New Patrotic Party are engaged in illegal mining across the country in cahoots with some Chinese nationals.
“The security at the site is heavy, this is the site for Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, located at Akim Bremanase with fifteen excavators and a lot of Chinese working for him” the man alleged.
With regard to illegal mining in the country, the Commander-in- Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, His excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo promised to deal with the galamsey canker. Various farm lands, forest reserves, water bodies have and are still being destroyed.
Galamsey has become a national canker with various stakeholders, and the general populace constantly lamenting over.
In dealing with the menace, President Akuffo-Addo appointed the former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng to investigate those within the presidency indulging in illegal mining after the alleged involvement of government officials. His report reveals that a lot government appointees are behind the act of galamsey in the country.
However, the governing party terms the report as “hear say” whilst the opposition parties agree with it.
Furthermore, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has published a document in response the Information Minister denial of involvement in illegal mining activities in his Consituency.
“Let me touch briefly on illegal mining. Last week, someone from your Consituency sent me a video recording of illegal mining activities close to your hometown. I don’t want to believe that what the person said about your role is true. The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep. I encourage you to investigate it and take appropriate action”.
Prof. Frimpong- Boateng added that Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is like his 4th child per his age, so he is advcing him to be a responsible politician because he will not hold power forever.
“My advice is always remember that political power is both short-lived and effervescent. In about two years’ time you may no longer be in government and you may experience the real world as a former high profile political power holder, so I will urge you to do your work diligently and avoid the coded and evil tactics”
He used the opportunity to draw the minister’s attention to what constitutes stating that it does not only refer to non-possession of a concession or mining permits but also mining close to water bodies, Diversion of tailings into water bodies, use of dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, and engagement of foreigners in small scale mining, among others.
STORY BY: Leticia Dadzie
