The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Nzema East Electoral Area in the Western region, Dorcas Amoah, has revealed that wanted ‘galamseyer’ Kwame Ato Asare Ani once ordered the closure of schools in the community due to his missing mobile phone.
She explained that the missing mobile phone occurred during a funeral in the community, which resulted in chaos.
According to the MCE, it took the intervention of the Educational Director, REGSEC, teachers, and community stakeholders to bring the situation under control before the pupil and students could attend school.
Speaking in an interview with Peace FM’s Evening News on April 03, 2023, she explained: “The first time I heard about him (Kwame Ato Asare Ani) was when some settler farmers were having a funeral, resulting in chaos in the community.
“So, he was arrested at the time and the issue is still pending in court. But I got involved in the case because most of the settler farmers were Northerners, and they reported that he (Kwame Ato Asare Ani) has said his phone is missing in the midst of the chaos so if they don’t bring the phone, no child should go to school.
“I had to come in and go there with the Educational Director, REGSEC, and all heads of department to meet the various schools and teachers to discuss the issue because people had already started withdrawing their children from the schools.
“At that time, he had been given bail after his arrest so he was present at the meeting. That was when I got to know who he is. So, we discussed the issue and we were able to resolve it, so the children are able to go to school now,” she narrated.
Kwame Ato Asare Ani, who is on police wanted list has denied allegations levelled against him by the police service as an armed robber. In an interview from his hideout, he explained the circumstances under which he was captured in a standoff with some police officers, stating that he is not an armed robber but a police informant in the Axim area.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kevin Taylor on his Loud Silence TV, Ani said he has over the period of one year been working with the police as an informant and a liaison between the police and some illegal miners in the area.
GhanaWeb on Sunday, April 2, 2023, reported about a viral video in which a supposed leader of the gang is seen accosting a police officer and accusing the officer of attempting to arrest him after he had given him money.
Subsequently, the Ghana Police Service later on Sunday released a statement which said it arrested some four men on March 28 after the Axim Divisional Police Patrol Team reported an attack on them by a gang.
According to the police, it also conducted a search at the residence of Kwame Asare where some weapons and other items were retrieved.
The statement added that the police became aware of the video showing the confrontation between some police officers and the arrested gang in which the police were pleading with the gang members over an extortion allegation.
According to the statement, the allegation of extortion has since been referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigation.
Some unknown men have assassinated the leader of a notorious gang who until his demise had been terrorizing illegal miners within the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region.
Assembly member of Benso Electoral area Justin Afful confirmed this to the host of Connect FM’s Omanbapa morning show Nhyiraba Paa Kwesi Simpson on Monday morning.
According to him, the deceased, Agye Nyame Sulemana, A.K.A Sulley, was returning with his gang from their usual ‘operation’ when he was shot together with other members of the cartel.
The Assemblyman explains that the modus operandi of this group is that they move from one galamsey site to the other armed with pistols, knives, cudgel, and other weapons robbing illegal miners of their gold and money.
“He has a gang and they have been terrorizing residents in my electoral area. They mostly block roads and rob innocent people of their valuables. They come with guns, knives, and other ammunition. They came for one of such operations last Thursday evening and were returning with their booty when a bullet from an unknown location hit some of the members,” the Assembly member indicated.
Reports indicate the gang leader, whose gunshot wounds were severe, was rushed to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Other gang members with minor injuries were also sent for treatment.
The Assembly member further explained that a tip-off to the Ghana Police led to the arrest of the two other members of the gang who were also receiving treatment at the facility.
They are currently in the custody of the Tarkwa Police Command.
According to the Assembly member, the gang mostly targets miners.
“Whenever the miners in my area are on break, these armed robbers will come around with their ammunition, threaten them and take all their gold and money. Anyone who refuses to comply would then be attacked. We still don’t know the person who shot them,” he indicated.
The wife of Agye Nyame Sulemana has since refuted reports that her husband is an armed robber.
According to Maame Rejoice, she has still not set eyes on the body of her late husband though she has heard of reports of his death.
According to Charles Bissiw, a former secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining (galamsey), Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former minister of environment, science, and technology, has been declared a suspect twice in investigations into illegal small-scale mining,
He claimed that Prof. Frimpong-Boatengwas labeled a suspect because he was in charge of distributing excavators that the government had seized and confiscated for use in galamsey in 2020, which went missing.
Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on Monday, monitored by GhanaWeb, Bissiw added that Prof Frimpong-Boateng reported the issue of the missing excavators to the Ghana Police Service, and he became a suspect after the investigations into the matter.
“Prof knows the truth about this issue (the missing excavators) but he has let Ghana down. Prof reported this issue to the police, and I went to the CID to present my statement for their investigations. At the end of the day, Prof became a suspect.
“Ask him whether he responded to the invitation of the police. He, also, reported a case to the BNI (Bureau of National Investigations), and at the end of the day, he become a suspect. Ask him if he did not sack the officers of the BNI who came to interrogate him about the missing excavators,” he said in Twi.
He added that Prof. Frimpong Boateng has all the details about the persons behind the missing excavators, and he has let the country down by failing to tell Ghanaians the whole truth on the matter.
Charles Bissue, however, noted that the recent detail given on the number of excavators that went missing by the former science and technology minister, in an interview on the state broadcaster, GBC, is the truth.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on March 10, 2023, with GBC News, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, a renowned surgeon, refuted assertions that the number of excavators that went missing in 2020, when he was minister, was 500.
“No 500 excavators went messing, it was somebody who threw that into the media space to tag something of Frimpong Boateng. What am I doing with 500 excavators?” he questioned.
According to him, the anti-galamsey taskforce seized between 150 and 200 excavators.
“When we went round, I think we got about 150, 200 that you could see. The rest had either been given to the owners or put in extra parts and moved away. And somebody put it out there, Frimpong Boateng has taken 500 excavators, what am I going to do with them? There was an orchestrating scheme even within the party and government to get you out,” he said.
The Ghana Police Service will soon commence investigations into allegations by a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, concerning the engagement of some New Patriotic Party (NPP) bigwigs in illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey,” as directed by President Akufo-Addo.
The President gave the directive last week, and Daily Graphic checks indicate that the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has commenced investigations into the matter.
Allegations
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, in a recent interview with the state broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), alleged that some officials of the ruling government were involved in galamsey.
He claimed that the alleged missing excavators story was used against him by his own party and other government officials involved in galamsey as a weapon to remove him from office.
He alleged that the loss of his position paved the way for some bigwigs in the ruling NPP to continue their galamsey activities.
The excavators were seized from galamsey operators at various points across the country.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng claimed in the interview that allegations concerning the loss of some 500 excavators seized from persons engaged in illegal mining in 2020 were untrue, adding that the stories were made up by some persons in government to tarnish his reputation in order to chase him out of office.
During the interview on GBC, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said: “There was an orchestration within the party and the government to get me out, and when I left, galamsey activities increased. Now things are coming up and we know those who are doing galamsey, even within the party and even people at the Jubilee House.”
He disclosed that the very actions of military personnel deployed to effect the arrest of illegal miners triggered the entire falsehood about him being responsible for the missing excavators at the time.
“The true story is that at the start of Operation Vanguard, the soldiers were supposed to arrest the excavators, but they went into the forest, removed the control boards of the excavators and came back to report. But when they went away, the owners went with different control boards and moved the excavators away,” he said.
Following his interview, a number of people and groups, including the Minority in Parliament, have called for investigations into the allegations made.
Investigations commenced
A highly placed source in the police told the Daily Graphic that last week the CID commenced investigations into the issues raised by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
According to the source, the police had dispatched a letter to Prof Frimpong-Boateng to assist the police in their investigations.
I’ll co-operate
However, when contacted yesterday, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng told the Daily Graphic that he had not received any letter from the police on the matter.
Nevertheless, he said, he would co-operate fully with any investigations into the matter if he was approached
Calls for probe
Last Friday, the Minority in Parliament called for investigations into the galamsey claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
The Ranking Member on the Lands and Forestry Committee, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, told journalists that the allegations were grave and must be probed.
“We have reports of key government officials being key galamsey operators involved in destroying lands in forest reserves. We wish to call on the government to investigate the allegations made by the former Minister of Environment. It is also our expectation that the government must desist from joining illegal immigrants engaged in galamsey because today most of the lands destroyed have not been restored,” he said.
Ahead of the call by the Minority, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, had called for a probe into the allegations.
The MP, in a statement, appealed to the state security agencies, such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the CID to investigate the matter.
He added that such allegations could not be swept under the carpet, and that investigations must be done to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Ghanaians expect the requisite state agencies/institutions (OSP, BNI, CID) to show loyalty to Ghana by initiating investigations into the allegations made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. Given his stature and previous position in this NPP government, these allegations cannot and must not be ignored,” he added.
The allegations made by a former minister of environment, science, technology, and innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, regarding the involvement of some New Patriotic Party (NPP) high-ranking members in illegal mining activities, also known as “galamsey,” have been forwarded to theGhana Police Servicefor investigation.
The President gave the directive last week, and Daily Graphic checks indicate that the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has commenced investigations into the matter.
Allegations
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, in a recent interview with the state broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), alleged that some officials of the ruling government were involved in galamsey.
He claimed that the alleged missing excavators story was used against him by his own party and other government officials involved in galamsey as a weapon to remove him from office.
He alleged that the loss of his position paved the way for some bigwigs in the ruling NPP to continue their galamsey activities.
The excavators were seized from galamsey operators at various points across the country.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng claimed in the interview that allegations concerning the loss of some 500 excavators seized from persons engaged in illegal mining in 2020 were untrue, adding that the stories were made up by some persons in government to tarnish his reputation in order to chase him out of office.
During the interview on GBC, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said: “There was an orchestration within the party and the government to get me out, and when I left, galamsey activities increased. Now things are coming up and we know those who are doing galamsey, even within the party and even people at the Jubilee House.”
He disclosed that the very actions of military personnel deployed to effect the arrest of illegal miners triggered the entire falsehood about him being responsible for the missing excavators at the time.
“The true story is that at the start of Operation Vanguard, the soldiers were supposed to arrest the excavators, but they went into the forest, removed the control boards of the excavators and came back to report. But when they went away, the owners went with different control boards and moved the excavators away,” he said.
Following his interview, a number of people and groups, including the Minority in Parliament, have called for investigations into the allegations made.
Investigations commenced
A highly placed source in the police told the Daily Graphic that last week the CID commenced investigations into the issues raised by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
According to the source, the police had dispatched a letter to Prof Frimpong-Boateng to assist the police in their investigations.
I’ll co-operate
However, when contacted yesterday, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng told the Daily Graphic that he had not received any letter from the police on the matter.
Nevertheless, he said, he would co-operate fully with any investigations into the matter if he was approached
Calls for probe
Last Friday, the Minority in Parliament called for investigations into the galamsey claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
The Ranking Member on the Lands and Forestry Committee, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, told journalists that the allegations were grave and must be probed.
“We have reports of key government officials being key galamsey operators involved in destroying lands in forest reserves. We wish to call on the government to investigate the allegations made by the former Minister of Environment. It is also our expectation that the government must desist from joining illegal immigrants engaged in galamsey because today most of the lands destroyed have not been restored,” he said.
Ahead of the call by the Minority, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, had called for a probe into the allegations.
The MP, in a statement, appealed to the state security agencies, such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the CID to investigate the matter.
He added that such allegations could not be swept under the carpet, and that investigations must be done to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Ghanaians expect the requisite state agencies/institutions (OSP, BNI, CID) to show loyalty to Ghana by initiating investigations into the allegations made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng. Given his stature and previous position in this NPP government, these allegations cannot and must not be ignored,” he added.
According to reports, 33 individuals have been detained for last week’s demolition ofGolden Star Wassa Mineproperties in Benso,Western Area.
The company’s employees were forced to flee for their safety after the illegal miners reportedly set 12 vehicles on fire, including pick-up trucks, ambulances, and excavators.
The Head of Group Corporate Affairs of the company, Gerard Hillary Osei Boakye earlier narrated to Citi News, how they were attacked.
“We usually do our patrols to protect our concession which is required of us by law to be responsible for our boundaries and also prevent incursions, to make sure that community people, hunters, and farms are safe. On one such occasion which was Thursday, March 16, we encountered some illegal miners encroaching, we engaged them as part of our modus operandi and told them to move away”.
“They were interested in that area, so they came back and when they came back, we tried to ward them off with the help of the police. They dispersed again and apparently unconfirmed report reaching us is that they may have been injured in the cause of being dispersed. That probably infuriated them, and they came back to torch our vehicles and ran our security post down, destroyed our offices, basically burnt things down,” he explained.
A member of parliament representing Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has urged Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng to look into any claims of suspected galamsey involving presidential staff.
Even if the investigation may involve President Akufo-Addo, the MP maintains that the OSP should not be hesitant to proceed.
Dr Clement Apaak was responding to allegations made by former Environment Minister Prof. Frimpong Boateng that some officials at the seat of government are involved in illegal mining.
He stated that the OSP should launch an investigation into the matter right away because Prof. Frimpong Boateng has not left Ghana. He is currently in the country. He has not gone underground. He is alive and well, and I believe that completing the investigation will aid us in uncovering the truth”.
Dr. Apaak says we cannot live in a country where the same government pretending to be fightinggalamsey including, the President, Vice President and public officials who are paid with taxpayers’ money to protect Ghanaians, our river bodies, our water bodies, our forest against illegal mining, are the ones who are engaged in the criminal act.
He emphasised that Ghanaians cannot accept this criminal act, especially when people in positions of power are involved.
He asserted that it is clear that the Akugo-Addo, Bawumia and NPP government has a deliberate policy to sabotage requisite constitutional and state agencies mandated to investigate acts of corruption and allegations of corruption.
He said the same thing happened to Martin Amidu, who was denied the needed resources and information to produce acts of corruption.
To that end, he has asked Ghanaians, civil society groups, labour unions, and well-meaning Ghanaians to demand that the government make the resources available for this investigation to be conducted; otherwise, the government will have no choice. But if we don’t, I’m afraid nothing will happen.
He alleged that this government has either compromised our anti-corruption state bodies or denied them information and resources to work.
”That is why our democracy is endangered. Do you remember how the president cleared Akonta Mining when the OSP was investigating the matter? The President is known as the clearing agent. That is what he does.
“If OSP is not up to the task, then we could look up to CHRAJ. I expect some citizens to file complaints at these institutions and demand a probe into the matter.”
The Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II is upset about what he called a disdain for the mistreatment of Gas on their own land.
The Ga King claims that his people are depressed about the situation.
“Ga Dangbe is sad, sad because of a lot of things that are being done against us. That is why I am speaking in English today and I want you to hear we are sad!
“We are sad about the way we are being treated in the capital. People just get up, go to a place like Agbogbloshie and start building why? Without even consulting a traditional authority,” he said,
The Ga Mantse made these remarks during a visit by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Mr Alan Kyerematen to his palace on Monday.
He stated that Gas have the ability to decide the outcome of the 2024 general election, thus should be recognised as key stakeholders in the affairs of the country.
“We will decide this election in 2024 because Accra is the pivot of the election. Accra is Ghana and Ghana is Accra, don’t take us for granted” he pointed out
The Ga Mantse pledged his support and that of Gas in general if Mr. Kyerematen would formalise his relationship with them.
“Build a social contract with the Ga-Adangbe people and you will see the light. Reiterating the number of people you have mentioned of Ga descent, Obetsebi Lamptey, Ako Adjei and all, are great men who stood and fought for this party. If you win your bid, which we pray you do, don’t forget the toil of these great leaders whose will, thought and process made this party what it is today,” he said.
“Remember that the Ga’s have laid down their lives for you,” he added.https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?
On his part, the former Trade and Industry Minister has been making some promises on the back of the Ga King’s remarks
According to Mr Kyerematen, he will transform Accra if he becomes president of Ghana.
He added that he will ensure that Ga’s feature very prominently in government.
“In our party our symbol is the elephant and we know that it is the symbol of the Ga State. All Gas naturally belong to the NPP and there is a spiritual connectivity between our symbols…. The role that the Ga community has played in bringing us to power must be appreciated by our party. And so if it is God’s will that I lead this party and I become president, I will make sure that Ga’s feature very prominently in government,” he assured.
Builsa South MP Clement Apaak has demanded a probe into allegations by former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, that some NPP bigwigs are involved in illegal mining.
The Professor, last week, alleged that there are many top government officials engaged in the canker popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
The renowned professor who served under President Akufo-Addo insists that the rot goes as high as the government seat, Jubilee House.
“Let me tell you that I did not take one excavator for anything, they know the truth. Now things are coming up, we know those who are behind it and the party people who are there, people in government including Jubilee House who are doing galamsey and so on, even now,” he said on GBC.
But Mr Apaak believes this assertion is enough grounds to commence a full-blown investigation.
“We DEMAND an investigation into allegations by Prof. Boateng, a former NPP Minister, then head of the anti-galamsey fight, that “People in the NPP, people in gov’t and people at Jubilee House are engaged in galamsey”. Galamsey is a crime and those involved must be punished.
In a brief statement, the Builsa South MP explained that the investigative bodies owe Ghanaians a duty to get to the bottom of the matter.
“Ghanaians expect the requisite state agencies/institutions (OSP, BIN, CID) to show loyalty to Ghana by initiating investigations into the allegations made by Prof. Boateng. By his stature and previous position in this NPP gov’t, these allegations cannot and must not be ignored,” he wrote.
During the interview with GBC, Prof Frimpong Boateng further suggested that it was his effort that prevented the forest reserves from further dissipation by these government officials for which reason there are reports of breaches now that he is no more in office.
“There was an orchestrated scheme, even within the party and government to get me out. Why is it that when I left now everyone is in the forest?” he added.
The member of parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has demanded an inquiry into some claims made by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former minister of environment, science, technology, and innovation, that some NPP top officials are involved in galamsey.
He asserts that these accusations cannot and must not be disregarded, particularly given that they are from a former member of the NPP government.
“We demand an investigation into allegations by Prof. Boateng, a former NPP Minister, then head of the anti-galamsey fight, that “People in the NPP, people in gov’t and people at Jubilee House are engaged in galamsey”. Galamsey is a crime and those involved must be punished,” Clement Apaak tweeted.
Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, who also chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM),in an interview revealed that elements within both the governing New Patriotic Party and the Akufo-Addogovernment, conspired in a grand scheme to hound him out of office to pave the way for their free participation in illegal mining (galamsey).
Prof Frimpong-Boateng said that the missing excavator story was trumped up against him by his own party and other government officials involved in galamsey, just to get him out.
It is based on this that Clement Apaak has called for an investigation into the matter.
“Ghanaians expect the requisite state agencies/institutions (OSP, BIN, CID) to show loyalty to Ghana by initiating investigations into the allegations made by Prof. Boateng. By his stature and previous position in this NPP gov’t, these allegations cannot and must not be ignored.
“CSOs, organised labour, the clergy and all well-meaning Ghanaians must canvas for an investigation into these allegations that elements in the Presidency, gov’t and NPP are engaged in galamsey, and consequently, the pollution of our rivers and destruction of our environment,” he added.
We DEMAND an investigation into allegations by Prof. Boateng, a former NPP Minister, then head of the anti-galamsey fight, that “People in the NPP, people in gov’t and people at Jubilee House are engaged in galamsey”. Galamsey is a crime and those involved must be punished. pic.twitter.com/LqW93NmZQf— Dr. Clement Abas Apaak (@DrApaak) March 12, 2023
A former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has disclosed why he was ousted from office.
According to the Professor who also chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), elements within both the governing New Patriotic Party and the Akufo-Addo government, conspired in a grand scheme to hound him out of office to pave the way for their free participation in illegal mining (galamsey).
In February 2020 while still in office, Prof Frimpong-Boateng disclosed that some of the 500 excavators allegedly seized by the IMCIM had gone missing.
In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said: “We were told that 500 [excavators] had been seized and given to the district assemblies but later on, when we went out to check, the figure was far less than that”.
Asked about the exact figures, Prof Frimpong-Boateng answered: “I cannot tell you exactly what but I can tell you it was far lower than the 500 put out”.
He, however, noted that the earthmoving equipment that went missing, were in the custody of the district assemblies.
“That was the case in most of the areas, so, we sent people out there to talk to the district assemblies and we got Vanguard involved and most of them had disappeared”, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said.
In a recent interview with state broadcaster GTV, however, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the missing excavator story was trumped up against him by his own party and other government officials involved in galamsey, just to get him out.
“No 500 excavators got missing. Who said that? It was thrown into the media space to tag something on Frimpong-Boageng”, he said.
“What am I doing with 500 excavators?” he wondered. Explaining what happened, from his point of view, the famed heart surgeon said: “The true story is that, at the start of the Operation Vanguard thing, the soldiers were supposed to arrest the excavators and they go into the forest where they are doing the mining and they remove control board”.
“So, if they remove 20 control boards today, they will report that they have immobilised 20 control boards”, he noted, adding: “But then, when you go away, they will bring new control boards and fix them and then off they go”.
“So, we got the report that they have immobilised over 750-something excavators. So, we appointed somebody to go round and check. When we went round, I think we got about 150 [or] 200 that we could see”.
“The rest had either been given to their owners or they put in some extra parts and moved them away”, he pointed out.
“And, then somebody put it out there that Frimpong-Boateng has taken 500 excavators. What am I going to do with it?” he asked.
“It was an orchestrated scheme even within the party and government to get me out”, Prof Frimpong-Boateng alleged, pointing out: “Why is it that when I left, now everybody is in the forest?”
“At that time, you dare not enter the forest. But, as I said, I don’t what to go into details now because I have a lot to say on that. But let me tell you that I did not take one excavator for anything. And, they know the truth”, he added.
He said: “Now, things are coming out: We know those who are behind it and the party people who are there, people in government, including Jubilee House who are doing galamsey and so on even now. So, let Frimpong-Boateng be in is corner to enjoy his retirement”.
Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, a former minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has refuted claims that the state seized 500 excavators that had disappeared while he was in office.
The heart surgeon claimed that the accusations against him were unfounded and only made up to get him kicked out of the Akufo-Addo led government.
On March 10, 2023, he revealed to GBC News in an exclusive interview how individuals within his own political party were working against him internally, including those at Jubilee House who were engaging in galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) activities.
“No 500 excavators went messing, it was somebody who threw that into the media space to tag something of Frimpong Boateng. What am I doing with 500 excavators?
“The true story is that, at the start of Operation Vanguard thing, the soldiers were supposed to arrest the excavators.
“So, they go into the forest where they’re doing the mining and remove the control board. So, if they remove 20 control boards today, they report that they’ve mobilized 20 control boards.
“But then when you go away, then they bring new control boards and fix them and then off they go. So, we got the report that they had immobilized over 750 excavators so we appointed somebody to go around and check.
“When we went round, I think we got about 150, 200 that you could see. The rest had either been given to the owners or put in extra parts and moved away.
“There was an orchestrating scheme even within the party and government to get you out.
“Look, why is it that when I left now everybody is in the forest? Other times, you dare not enter the forest.
“But let me tell you, I did not take one excavator for anything and they know the truth. Now things are coming up, we know those who are behind it and the party people who are there.
“People in government including Jubilee House are doing galamsey even now,” Professor Frimpong Boateng recounted.
Son of Aisha Huang, Huang Lei, has been deported from Ghana after being found guilty by the Accra High Court.
On September 2, 2022, the felon was taken into custody after eight packs of Eley shotgun cartridges, containing about two 250 pieces of ammunition were seized from him.
He was before the court charged with one count of remaining in Ghana after the expiration of his passport and one count of possessing 250 rounds of ammunition without authority.
He had pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, but later changed his plea to guilty before a relieving judge, Justice Comfort Tasiame, as result of the substantive judge being on her annual leave.
Huang Lei, was subsequently convicted on his own plea of guilty and was sentenced to a fine of GH¢10,800.
The court ordered the Ghana Immigration Service to deport the convict, and he has since been deported to his home country of China.
Meanwhile, two of his accomplices who are standing trial for similar offences are before the court, which has set a date to conduct case management which paves way for the trial.
His counterpart, Huang Haihua, has also been charged with one count of possessing a forged document – a fake residence permit, while Shi Yang, who was initially standing trial with his mother and stepfather has now been charged with one count of possessing a forged residence permit and four counts of possessing ammunition without authority.
He has been charged for being in the possession of 114 rounds of ammunition – 83 live rounds of 9mm ammunition, three live rounds of 8mm ammunition and another 22 live rounds of BB ammunition without authority.
Lucy Ekeleba Blay, counsel for the two, told the court yesterday that she had filed another application for bail on behalf of the accused, who had been remanded into prison custody.
The court, however, said it will not be able to hear the application yesterday and subsequently adjourned the case to March 22, 2023, for the application to be moved.
A farmer in the Ashanti Region’s Bepotenten, Peter Amenya has recounted to the High Court in Accra how Chinese galamsey lord Aisha Huang paid him an amount of GHC6000 and cleared “everything” from his farmlands.
Testifying as the 6th Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial in which the notorious galamsey Queen is standing trial for four charges, Peter Amenya said “the accused person had cleared everything on my farmland with excavators for mining purposes.”
In his witness statement adopted by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Tuesday, March 7, when he mounted the witness box, the witness also told the court how Aisha Huang stormed his farmlands without payment following earlier negotiations.
“I met the accused person sometime in 2017, through James Ogbey, one of her employees,” the Witness said.
“The said James Ogbey contacted me and my brother in-law called Timothy Teye Ali, and informed us that the accused person was interested in purchasing our farmland for her mining business,” he told the court.
The witness said, “Aisha then sent a surveyor, whose name I do not know, accompanied by James Ogbey to my farm to take measurements of the land.
“My farmland shared a boundary with the cocoa and palm plantation of Timothy Teye Ali,” and “The surveyor and James Ogbey took measurements of the farmland of Timothy Teye Ali as well.”
He told the court that, “after negotiating the price, James Ogbey called the accused person and told her about the size of the land and the price we had agreed on being GHS8,000.00 per an acre of land. She asked Ogbey to bring us to her mining site which was nearby.”
Mr Amenya told the court that in total “I was to be paid GHS22,000.00 for my two and a half acres of farm land.”
“Timothy Teye Ali, Boyoo@ Kojo Tia, Moses Teye Ali and I went with Ogbey to meet Aisha at her mining site. She gave each of us an amount of GHS1,000.00 as part payment to show her commitment to the purchase of our farm land. She made the payment through Ogbey,” he told the court.
The farmer said, three weeks “after the initial part-payment of GHS1000.00 to me, Jame Ogbey called me to his house and paid me an additional amount of GHS5,000.00 on behalf of Aisha with the promise that I would be paid the outstanding balance within a short period.”
“Prior to the receipt of the GHS5,000.00 the accused person had cleared everything on my farmland with excavators for mining purposes.”
Aisha Huang has pleaded not guilty to four charges namely undertaking a mining operation without a licence, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entering.
She has since been remanded into prisons custody while the trial is ongoing.
In his witness statement adopted by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Tuesday, March 7, when he mounted the witness box, the witness also told the court how Aisha Huang stormed his farmlands without payment following earlier negotiations.
“I met the accused person sometime in 2017, through James Ogbey, one of her employees,” the Witness said.
“The said James Ogbey contacted me and my brother in-law called Timothy Teye Ali, and informed us that the accused person was interested in purchasing our farmland for her mining business,” he told the court.
The witness said, “Aisha then sent a surveyor, whose name I do not know, accompanied by James Ogbey to my farm to take measurements of the land.
“My farmland shared a boundary with the cocoa and palm plantation of Timothy Teye Ali,” and “The surveyor and James Ogbey took measurements of the farmland of Timothy Teye Ali as well.”
Arrest
The 6th Prosecution Witness told the court that he later “heard that the accused person had been arrested for indulging in illegal mining and had been deported to China.”
“Aisha left behind an excavator which was parked at her mining site near my farm,” and that “James Ogbey told me he will sell this excavator as scraps and the money realised will be used to pay all the debts Aisha owed us.”
He told the court that he subsequently “heard the excavator had been cut into pieces and sold as scraps by James Ogbey so I went to where the excavator was located to verify.”
The excavator he said was not there and that “Since the arrest of Aisha, nobody has come forward to pay us our outstanding amount owed us.”
“My brother-in-law Timothy Teye Ali, reported James Ogbey’s conduct to the police for redress and Timothy subsequently sent the case the court.”
Cross-Examination
Under Cross-Examination from lawyers of Aisha Huang led by Miracle Attah-Chey, the witness said he dealt with James Ogbey.
When it was put to him that all payments regarding the land were made to himself and Timothy, he disagreed.
He however agreed with counsel’s suggestion that based on the fact that he dealt with James Ogbey throughout the transaction he approached Ogbey when she defaulted in making payments.
The witness has since been discharged by the High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
According to Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, tracking excavators has been found to be one of the most successful strategies to combat the menace of unlawful small-scale mining (galamsey).
He said it also repositions the small-scale mining sector as a sustainable source of livelihood for local people.
Mr Jinapor said these when speaking at a meet-the-press series in Accra on Tuesday, February 28.
The Damongo lawmaker said the Minerals Commission will install tracking devices on 4,000excavators and earthmoving equipment as the government scales up the fight against galamsey.
After successfully tracking 75 excavators for the past three months, the commission was better placed to bring on board 4,000 excavators and earthmoving equipment before the end of the year.
The minister said it was in line with that that the government reduced withholding tax on unprocessed gold by small-scale miners, which was introduced in 2015, from three per cent to 1.5 per cent.
“This has resulted in a massive increment in gold exports from small-scale mining from 3,429.91 kilogrammes (Kg) in 2021, to 22,158.25kg in 2022.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, Samuel Abu Jinapor, is optimistic that the state will be victorious in its case against galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang, whose alleged unlawful activities have destroyed the environment.
For Mr Jinapor, it is imperative the state addresses the case with all the seriousness it deserves so it serves as a signal to other culprits of illegal mining that the government would no longer be dormant in the enforcement of the law.
Speaking to the media, he said “We will prosecute this case with the vigour that it requires so that it will serve as a clear signal in the country that Ghanaian law will be applied and applied to the letter.”
“So let me assure you that prosecution is being waged relentlessly and when it is all said and done we will secure a conviction,” he added.
Aisha Huang (En Huang) is standing trial for her alleged involvement in illegal mining activities after it was found out that she returned to the country despite being repatriated.
Per reports, upon her arrival, she resumed her galamsey activities.
The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, following reports on her arrival, called for the docket on Aisha Huang from the police to enable his office to prepare a complete docket covering offences from 2018 to the present.
In 2018, the Chinese illegal mining ‘queen’ faced three counts of undertaking small-scale mining operations, contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703); providing mining support services without valid registration from the Minerals Commission, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and illegal employment of foreigners, contrary to the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).
An Accra Circuit Court hearing the case has since September 2022 allowed five witnesses to mount the witness box to testify.
Timothy Teye Ali, a farmer at Sukuumu, Bepotenten, in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region, who was the fifth to appear before the court said Aisha Huang’s activities led to the destruction of River Offin and other water bodies in the Ashanti Region.
Timothy Teye Ali told the court that in 2017, he was contacted by one James Ogbey over his interest in purchasing land to mine gold.
He added that after an assessment of what he had to offer, they came to an agreement on GH¢28,000 as the final charge.
He continued that he was then informed by Ogbey that the accused, Aisha Huang, was on that day elsewhere and for which reason she could not be present with them.
Four soldiers and an immigration officer are among the 13 people who have been detained at Konongo in the Ashanti Region for allegedly participating in illegal operations at Mantin in the Bosome-Freho District of the Ashanti Region.
On Friday, they were taken into custody by National Security Operatives with the help of the Konongo Divisional Police Command along with a Chinese citizen they had already taken into custody before being approached.
The immigration officer was identified as Assistant Immigration Control Officer Emmanuel Acheampong, while the four soldiers have been named as Warrant Officer (WO) Boateng, Corporal Otibu Dacosta, Private Bruce Afful, and L. S. Asomay.
Furthermore, the civilians including those in military uniforms were, Bernard Nyarko, Nana Amoako Arthur, Odei Michael, Nana Danquah, Prince Boakye, Asare Francis, Appiah Francis, Darkey Michael, Atitsogbe Bismark and Eric Addo.
A source at the National Security headquarters in Accra told the Ghanaian Times that a search conducted led to the seizure of three locally manufactured single barrel guns, one pump action rifle, three knives, two heavy duty batteries, one pepper spray, dummy taser and cash amount of GH¢18,870.00 from them.
The source further noted that the suspects were transported to Kumasi and were currently being held in close custody at 4 Infantry Battalion and Headquarters Central Command guardrooms with the exception of the GIS officer and the Chinese national, who were handed over to GIS HQ in Kumasi.
It noted that the involvement of soldiers in unauthorised operations and the use of military uniforms by civilians were becoming rife in recent times despite efforts by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to clamp down on the menace.
“It is expected that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the activities of the group and disciplinary action taken against them if found culpable to serve as deterrence to others,” the source said.
Meanwhile a statement issued by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Accra yesterday and signed by Chief Superintendent of Immigration, Michael Amoako-Atta, head of Public Affairs, said the service had taken note of the widely circulated incident in which a group of persons including an immigration officer was alleged to have been terrorising miners within mining communities in the Ashanti Region.
The statement said the officer whose service identity card went viral on social media had been identified and was assisting in investigations.
“The GIS wishes to dissociate itself from the misconduct of the said officer if investigations prove that he was involved in the incident.
Management wishes to assure the general public that investigations has begun and the said officer or any other person involved in the incident will not be spared if found guilty,” the statement stressed.
Ghanaian statesman and lawyer, Sam Awuku Okudzeto, is of the view that Ghana should exploit their own minerals as well as control their mining sectors rather than hand it over to investors.
He made this statement during a constitutional reform event which took place on February 14, 2023 at the Institution of Economic Affairs (IEA).
Okudzeto said that China for example is deliberately exploiting the minerals in Ghana so they can create an avenue where Ghanaians will become dependent on them.
According to him, China is able to get gold from Ghana by intentionally importing their prisoners into the country.
Mr. Okudzeto further explained that, after the prisoners are brought into the country, they then transfer the gold to Togo and the Chinese pick it from Togo and export it to their country.
He stated, “We were allowing China to send prisoners to come to Ghana and they collect the gold. Now if you ask the Mineral Commission they will tell you it’s not true and I tell them you can’t fool a person like me. The truth is that, that gold, they take to Togo and they fly it to China”.
He thinks the reason why some investors are able to take control and exploit the minerals from other countries is because of how flexible the country’s policy is thus, there is the need to change a policy when the initial policy is not working on one’s behalf, he said.
Sam Okudzeto, who is an member of the Council of State said that some countries have been able to maintain their mining sectors as a result of the power they hold over their mining sectors. He then pinpointed these countries and they include Congo, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
“Have you been to Johannesburg. It is called the city of gold. How were all those sky scrapers and the rest you saw there, where did it come from. Because we forget in South Africa, mining is done by the South African even if they are white.
“The money remains in their country, the money does not go out. Here you are you allow somebody to take your money and sell the thing in dollar and you are going out to go and borrow dollar,” he posited.
One person has been confirmed dead with another missing after two teenagers allegedly fell into a galamsey pit at Anwiafutu near Nyinahin in the Atwiman Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.
The deceased has been identified as Kwabena Anane, 17, while Ata Derrick, 18, is still missing in the pit.
The teenagers according to residents fell into the river after some security men suspected to be forest guards chased them while searching for gold in an abandoned pit.
The sad incident according to residents occurred on Monday, January 30, 2023.
One of the community members who witnessed the incident narrated the story to OTEC News.
“They were five boys who went to the area in search of gold in some abandoned pits in the forest, we were told that some forest guards chased them out of the forest forcing two of the boys to fall into the pits.”
“Although the boys had the skill to swim out of the pits, the forest guards allegedly pelted the boys with stones forcing the two to drown; now we have retrieved the lifeless body of only one of the two who fell into the pit”.
“The body we retrieved had serious cuts confirming claims that the forest guards attack the boys with stones while trying to get out of the pit.”
Meanwhile, residents in the community have vowed to deal drastically with any forest guard who will come to the area if nothing is done about the situation.
Former Deputy Defence Minister, Major (rtd) Derek Oduro, says the decision to use aircrafts to fight illegal mining is a laudable.
This comment by the former Minister comes after the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry revealed that it is set to take delivery of four aircraft from the Ghana Armed Forces to aid the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.
George Mireku Duker, Deputy Lands Minister, said the aircraft, which belongs to the Armed Forces, will come in handy as new strategies are being mapped out to fight illegal mining.
“The aircraft have been around, and they are sitting in Takoradi. You could bear with me that in court we may need some evidence, it is the reason these aircraft are very important in the sector. We are hoping to have not less than four of these aircrafts,” Mireku Duker told pressmen.
After the re-launch of Operation Halt II on October 11, 2022, the Ghana Armed Forces deployed in the fight against illegal mining in forest reserves and river bodies seized 30 excavators, destroyed four and immobilized four others on site.
Reacting to the use of aircraft in fighting illegal mining, Major (ret.) Derek Oduro told host Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwa of Atinka TV’s morning show “Ghana Nie” that the use of helicopters will be more effective in the fight against Galamsey than drones.
Major (rtd) Derrick Oduro reiterated that the use of helicopters to support the fight against illegal mining will prevent informants from giving heads-up to illegal miners.
“You were talking about the use of drones in fighting Galamsey, the drones helped but like we all know, there is a limit to the use of the drones. The drones cannot do what the helicopters can do. With the helicopters, the illegal miners can be sighted from afar, traced and followed to hideouts,” Major (rtd) Derrick Oduro told Ama Gyenfa.
Commenting on the setbacks in the fight against illegal mining, Major (rtd) Derek Oduro attributed the hitch to dirty politics.
He opined that during the fight, the media, which had initially embraced the fight, stepped back and began accusing the government of taking bribes from the illegal miners.
“Dirty politics have hindered the progress of the fight. The media which initially embraced the fight stepped and turned against the operations of the fight against illegal mining and begun accusing government for taking bribes from the illegal miners,” he added.
As the government collaborates with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Airforce (Western Command) to repair some specialized aircraft, the fight against “galamsey” is becoming more intense.
These aircraft will be used for information gathering, surveillance, and area recognition.
The three aircraft were inspected by George Mireku Duker, the deputy land minister in charge of mines, on Friday at the Takoradi Airforce Base. He noted that they had not been in use since 2014.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is funding the repairs, which are expected to cost €700,000 and take six months to complete.
“This is an effort we are making to clamp down on recalcitrant miners who are determined to destroy our industry. We want to streamline and regulate activities in the mining sector,” he said.
Mr Duker expressed the belief that repairing the aircraft was a cost-effective measure to facilitate the fight against “galamsey” as against procuring new drones and other equipment for mining surveillance.
Servicing the aircraft would see the replacement of crashes, hard drives, outdated software and engines, among other things.
Mr Duker commended the Chamber of Mines for its immeasurable and patriotic effort towards the fight against illegal mining and lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for its support.
When the movie industry took a nosedive seven years ago, Ras Nene, also known as Dr. Likee decided to channel his energy and resources into illegal mining, known in the local parlance as ‘galamsey’, the actor has said.
In his interview on The Delay Show aired on January 15, 2023, the Kumawood star recalled how he invested an initial amount of GH¢70,000 and later requested a loan from a friend.
According to him, after investing GH¢70,000 in the business, he made GH¢40,000 on his first attempt, a development that encouraged him to invest more.
“I had sites and equipment. One of my sites was around Bole Bamboi, a town called Sapa. I had another on a Gonjaland. This was seven years ago,” said the actor who was able to build a house for his mother through acting.
“I invested GH¢70,000 (seven hundred million old Ghana cedi). I raked GH¢40,000 on my first attempt and so I was convinced it was worth it. After making that GH¢40,000 amount, things went down. I was eager to break even. A man I worked with advised me to seek spiritual assistance but I ignored him. He went spiritual and was able to succeed while I wallowed in distress,” Ras Nene said in the Twi language.
He recalled how he rescinded his decision to leave the site after discovering another site that had potential. Instead of calling it quits, he rather asked a friend for a loan to invest but his dream was not realized.
He said: “I called a friend of mine and asked for a GH¢50,000 loan. Unfortunately, everything went down the drain. I didn’t even have money for transportation.”
Disclosing that his family and friends neglected him at this stage, Ras Nene said he received assistance from a pastor called Penamang. But for her assistance, there was no hope.
“She gave me GH¢70 for transportation,” he said.
In what appeared to be that last straw that broke the camel’s back, Ras Nene said his “own people” called the man that gave him the loan to inform him of his return.
“As soon as I got home, the man came in with the police to arrest me,” the actor narrated as he disclosed, he spent three days in remand. “I was later told the man said he had forgiven me. I was subsequently released.”
The General Overseer of Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie, says that the Lord has not revealed anything to him regarding Ghana’s illegal mining activity, also known as galamsey.
Although the subject of galamsey is of the utmost importance to the state, the well-known prophet claims that God has not spoken to him about it.
He noted that, in contrast to Galamsey, God is actively managing other crucial matters affecting the nation.
Prophet Nigel made the assertions on January 11, 2023, while giving more highlights of his 31st night prophesies on the GTV Breakfast Show, hosted by Thelma Tackie.
He emphasized that God has given “common sense” to the national government and traditional authority in order to protect their lands and water bodies from the operations of illicit mining.
“With the utmost respect, God has given us common sense. So, are you saying that the traditional leaders in Akyem and Prah are blind to what is happening? Don’t they see it? Therefore, no prophetic words will be given about Galamsey by God,” Nigel said in response to Thelma Tackie’s question regarding what God had to say about galamsey in Ghana.
He hoped that since the leaders were unconcerned about the galamsey struggle, the spirits that lived in the rivers would be stirred up and kill everyone.
“Even the underwater spirits need to be furious and slam these leaders for being oblivious to the fact that things are deteriorating. Visit Abuakwa to witness for yourself how the Brim River, which we once drank, now looks like chocomilo,”, he fired.
Prophet Nigel added, “God discloses things that are secret, but the problem with galamsey is well known to everyone in Ghana, therefore God won’t waste His time on it.”
According to President Akufo-Addo, Akonta Mining Company Limited is not currently engaged in any unlawful mining activities in Ghana.
The President made this statement on Wednesday at the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association’s 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress in Koforidua.
For alleged illegalities the company allegedly committed in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western North Region last year, numerous groups and individuals have called for punitive measures against the company and its owners, led by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwo-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi.
When asked by the event’s chair, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, why Chairman Wontumi is still free to go about his business when he ought to be under investigation and prosecuted, President Akufo-Addo said that Akonta Mining is not now engaging in any criminal activity.
“Let me respond briefly to the chairperson on the issue of illegal mining. I want to assure him and all of you that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak.
“Further, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has through the agency of the Forestry Commission, with the assistance of the military, made the effort to cordon off all 294 sites of forest reserves in the country and rid them of illegal mining as we speak.”
The Lands Ministry forbade the Company, which is owned by Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the chairman of the New Patriotic Party for the Ashanti Region, from mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve in October 2022.
The Ministry claims that despite Akonta Mining Limited having a mining lease to conduct mining activities in specific areas of Samreboi outside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, the company lacked the mineral rights necessary to conduct any mining operations there.
The Special Prosecutor is currently investigating the matter.
Most of these stories garnered significant attention as the year went on and generated a lot of discussion on social media and in Accra’s streets.
They included things like political issues, entertainment, government, and developmental issues.
This article recaps some of these major stories that kept social media buzzing all year round.
Galamsey
Illegal small-scale mining also known as galamsey has been an issue of great national concern. The problem has been a long-lasting one that has caused destruction to the country’s water bodies. Pictures of samples of various river bodies flooded social media and generated a lot of engagement on the country’s ability to take care of its natural resources.
Watch how galamsey activities destroys cocoa farm of farmer sympathetic to the NPP
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Aisha Huang
The controversial Aisha Huang issue was one that many Ghanaians were interested in. According to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, En Huang, popularly known as Aisha Huang was repatriated in December 2018. Her issue came up after she reappeared in Ghana in September. Aisha Huang is still in police custody as her case is currently in court.
Government fully committed to bringing Aisha Huang, others to book – Lands Minister
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My journey to becoming one of Ghana’s biggest make up artistes -Kruz K speaks
Conversations surrounding the construction of the National Cathedral were prevalent in 2022 especially when the country was facing a harsh economic crisis but the government was bent on building the National Cathedral.
Akufo-Addo’s private jet
Several issues were raised with the President’s “luxurious” flights. The issues were with the fact that the flights were expensive and costly to the taxpayer. Ghanaians on social media did not take it easy. They descended heavily on the government.
KenMustGo
The hashtag KenMustGo trended on social media for days. This was after some members of the NPP demanded the removal of the finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
NPP MPs petition president to sack Ofori-Atta, Adu Boahen
The majority caucus in parliament, at a press conference on Tuesday, have threatened they will not participate in any government business until Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State in charge of Finance at the Office of the President, Chares Adu Boahen are sacked by the president.
The Ghanaian Armed Forces have reported unprovoked violent attacks on its soldiers by a number of communities in the Ashanti area, which is afflicted by illegal mining, while legitimate operations to drive away illegal gold miners, also known as “galamsey,” were underway.
The Ghana Armed Forces claims that despite the situation being alarming, these tendencies cannot dissuade the Forces from carrying out its mandate to assist the government in putting an end to environmentally destructive phenomena and that, going forward, any such unruly attitude toward soldiers will be met with the most suitable responses.
During this year’s West African Soldiers Social Activities at Kwadaso near Kumasi in the Ashanti region, Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, the General Officer Commanding the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, issued the warning.
“The posture of some locals towards troops on anti-galamsey operations has been a cause of worry to us. There have been instances where some locals pelted troops with stones and other harmful materials which they laid their hands on. Some of these individuals sometimes wield deadly weapons at troops, all in attempt to frustrate us from undertaking our legally sanctioned duties. It is my hope that appropriate stakeholders would be impressed upon to caution these youth to desist from such acts to avoid any clash with the military and other security agencies”, the GOC cautioned.
He also issued a warning to soldiers who, alone or as part of a group, engage in clandestine activities because doing so is against operational protocol.
“I will also like to sound a note of caution to all troops to also refrain from indulging in illegal or one man operation. Any soldier who is found culpable of this unprofessional behaviour will be dealt with accordingly’’.
The General Officer Commanding the Central Command used the occasion to enumerate some progress made since he assumed duty in the regions under his command.
These include an ongoing construction of an accommodation for officers, provision of regular potable water supply systems at both the Command Headquarters and the Iddris Baracks, completion of the commercial water production factory with a delivery truck and a coconut plantation as additional income generation sources.
“ When I took office here the command major challenge included accommodation for troops, lack of portable water and other means of raising generation founds for day today management of the command. I’m happy to report that currently we no more have water problem in our barracks again. The commercial water project my predecessors started has also been completed. While 20 units accommodation for soldiers are also at the completion stage’’.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, noted that, the region is now relatively peaceful mainly due to the cooperation, unity and team work among the various security services.
He commended the Command of the Central Command also for the various initiatives to generate additional income to support what the government provides, which he admitted, is inadequate.
Mr. Osei Mensah, however, reminded the military that they have more work to do to ensure absolute peace and security in the region in the ensuing year.
“I know you are under resourced but with the little resources available at your deposal you have delivered for the region. I appreciate your efforts in maintaining law and order in your operational command, however more need to be done against the potential terrorism against the region the country as such. Remains committed to ensure you are appropriately resourced to carry your constitutional defense responsibility for the country’’.
The West African Soldiers Social Activities, WASSA, is an occasion for both soldiers and civilian staff of the Ghana Armed Forces to shed off some of the work-related stress through social activities with their families and other stakeholders.
This year’s edition for the staff of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces is the first since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Undoubtedly, 2022 will be one of the most difficult years Ghanaians have ever experienced, especially for those who did not experience the 1980s drought.
Many expect the father of the country, the president, to give hope to the citizenry with his public pronouncements. Unfortunately, some statements President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made added insult to injury for many Ghanaians.
The president’s comments that annoyed Ghanaians were mostly made during his tour of some parts of the country.
Here are three statements by Akufo-Addo that did not sit well with many Ghanaians:
To those of you saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, I will shame you all – Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo, while speaking during a sod-cutting ceremony for the Suame Interchange on October 18, 2022, as part of his Ashanti Region tour, berated his political detractors in the region.
According to him, these people will be shamed one by one for the numerous things he has done for the people of the region, which is considered the ‘political world bank’ of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Akufo-Addo stated that for the past six years that he has been in office, the people of the Ashanti Region have benefitted enough from his government; therefore, his detractors cannot say otherwise.
“And to those of you going around saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, one after the other, they are all going to be shamed convincingly today, tomorrow and the day after.
“In spite of our present difficulties, which I know will be gone as soon as possible, I continue to be excited about the future prospects of the nation, and I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana that we want, we can realize it if we all work at it,” he said.
Your threats to vote against the NPP don’t frighten me – Akufo-Addo
The president once again raised eyebrows in an interview on OTEC FM during his tour of the Ashanti Region when he stated how unfazed he was about the NPP losing the next general elections.
He explained that while there are threats to vote against them, he is unmoved, adding that the intimidation of voting against the NPP due to unfulfilled promises or lack of development under his tenure is a voter’s personal decision he cannot be bothered about.
“People make those kinds of threats; they don’t frighten me. Somebody votes for you, and somebody supports you. It’s because they want you to do certain things for them. I understand that. But there is no need for people to say that if I am unable to do this and that… those are their own issues to deal with. Of course, I will do it (the road).
“But if it comes to the election and you choose to vote for the NDC, that is your own issue; that is not my worry because nobody holds your thumb to vote; it is your own work. The important thing is that I understand my responsibility, and we will deal with it,” the president said.
I’m not so sure if Aisha Huang was deported – Akufo-Addo
In September 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo contradicted statements by some of his appointees that illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) kingpin, Aisha Huang, was deported from Ghana in 2018.
Speaking in an interview on Stone City Radio in Ho during his tour of the Volta Region, which GhanaWeb monitored, Akufo-Addo expressed uncertainty about whether Aisha Huang was deported.
According to the president, it is likely that the ‘galamsey’ queen was never deported but fled the country in 2018.
“… I am not still sure whether she was, in fact, deported or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back or whatever. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it.
“Whichever way it is, she has become a sort of nickname for all that the ‘galamsey’ represents and also, unnfortunately, for the involvement of Chinese nationals in this illicit trade,” he said.
Oppong Nkrumah’s shocked expression after Akufo-Addo said Aisha Huang wasn’t deported.
Illegal mining, known commonly as ‘Galamsey‘ has been a major challenge facing Ghana with its dire effects on the country’s environment.
The serious threat posed by this phenomenon to Ghana’s environment including water bodies has compelled the government of Ghana to initiate a fight against it.
While a section of the population are blatantly against galamsey and have vehemently expressed their dissent to the development, quite a few individuals seem to be on the fence with respect to the menace.
A young man by name Kobby has narrated how his life ‘got better’ through galamsey as well as losing his best friend in the process.
According to him, he was working as a vulcaniser but the money he was earning from it was inadequate to cater for his basic needs. He then decided to venture into the galamsey business.
On his first day at the mining site, he realised the work was not easy but he had no option than to persevere through it.
He learnt on the job, the various types of galamsey including ‘bowhewe’ which literally means ‘dig and search’ in the Akan language, which is the one that involved excavators degrading the land.
“I did a couple of it but I mostly do the ‘bowhehwe’, the excavator one. I followed a friend but it didn’t work because it was dangerous for me and it was mostly owned by wicked Chinese with less money”, he said.
He revealed that on his first day, he earned only GH¢30 but was assured by some of his colleagues that his remuneration would increase with time and that encouraged him to put much effort into his work.
The highest amount of money he has earned from the business was GH¢1000 a day, which he said he saved it to further his education.
He also added that the galamsey business was a “dangerous” one that comes with a lot of problems including drowning and loss of lives especially those who engaged in underground mining as on some occasions, the top of the soil can break and cover your back.
Explaining how risky the underground mining was, Kobby recounted how he lost his best friend through it.
“He was my best friend. used to go underground with him. A very hardworking guy. We went underground for gold. I took the lead. When I got back, I was waiting for him at the entrance of the pit not knowing the soil collapsed n covered the middle way of the pit. I couldn’t find him afterwards. That was when I realized that my friend had lost his life” Kobby painfully recounted.
Kobby said that was when he advised himself to stay away from such a job and went into different ventures.
He pleaded with people having the intention of engaging in galamsey to stay away because it destroys the nature of the land and the loss of lives is terrible.
The ministry’s budgetary allocation for the fiscal year has increased significantly from GH530.6 million in 2022, representing a 16.5% rise.
A total of GH 475.3 million was released during the reviewed year, with GH 419.96 million being spent by the Ministry as of September 2022.
Regarding the plans and expectations for 2023, the Ministry would keep building up local technical and human resources for maintaining the railway system in 2023.
This would be done by organising workshops and equipping the youth through practical hands-on training to create jobs and wealth to support the growth of the economy.
In 2023, the construction of the 22km Kojokrom-Manso section of the Western Railway Line and the 97.97km of the Tema-Mpakadan Line are expected to be completed and operationalised, being the first standard gauge railway line in Ghana.
He noted that in the short to medium term, there was the possibility of linking the Western Railway Line, which was 35 to 40 per cent complete, to the Boankra Inland Port.
The Eastern Line, had, however, seen no improvement.
“On the completion of the Western Line, there is the possibility that we may move on through the Port of Takoradi to the Boankra Inland Port,” Mr Amewu said.
“So, that is what we are doing while looking to the long term of completing the Eastern Railway Line.”
Mr Kennedy Nyarko Osei, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, who seconded the motion, said the Committee noted the challenges of the Ministry with encroachment on lands earmarked for railway projects.
He said those challenges had financial implications since the Government had to compensate those encroachers when projects were being undertaken to get the right of way on its own land, which delayed the work.
Mr Osei, who is a Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru, said the Committee was concerned about the Ministry’s ability to take the necessary steps to protect all earmarked lands and properties from encroachment.
The Committee was informed about illegal mining (galamsey) activities, which were causing damage to railway infrastructure resulting in huge financial losses.
Mr Osei said the Ministry would require an estimated two million dollars to reclaim lands destroyed as a result of illegal mining activities.
He urged the Ministry to collaborate with the National Security and Lands and Natural Resources ministries, through Operation Halt, to curb the activities of galamsey operators.
Touching on the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal, the Chairman said there was the need for a railway line from Boankra to be extended to the Tema Port to facilitate the transportation of heavy goods to the inland Port.
He suggested that with the annual amount that Parliament approves every year, the House should take a position and allocate $200 million for the next five years for anyone who would want to come and build the railway system.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the NPP Majority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, said it was high time for massive investment in the railway sector to make it more vibrant.
Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, and MP for Adaklu, urged the ruling NPP Government to give credit to the opposition NDC for initiating some development projects while it was in office, such as the Tema-Npakanda Railway Line.
Environmental parasitologist and researcher Dr. Henry Ofosu Addo has forecast that if deliberate efforts are not taken to end unlawful mining, Ghana may need to import water in the future (galamsey).
He asserted that Ghana’s beautiful water bodies, which nature had endowed the country with, and the environment were intertwined and that unpatriotic and egotistical Ghanaians were slowly destroying them in order to further their own economic interests.
Dr. Addo, a former lecturer at the Catholic University of Ghana who made the prediction in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani was sharing his thoughts on the impact of ‘galamsey’ activities on the environment, adding that rivers played important roles in the socio-cultural and religious lives of many people in Ghana and had served Ghanaians since time immemorial.
Dr. Addo expressed worry that during illegal mining operations, dangerous chemicals like mercury are released into the water bodies, which had serious consequences such as killing all forms of life in the water bodies.
“The fishes in the water take the mercury in and are harvested for human beings to consume, thereby killing ourselves indirectly,” he emphasised.
“We all need to pay attention to the situation since ‘galamsey’ has become a systemic problem not only restricted to small parts of the country, but it is widespread nationwide destroying our water bodies and threatening our existence,” he stated.
“The situation will be disastrous, and posterity will not forgive us if we remain unconcerned.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has emphasized the significance of relations between Ghana and South Africa and urged the two nations to work together immediately to strengthen their negotiating position in relation to gold prices in order to obtain competitive gold prices on the global market to their mutual advantage.
According to the Lands Minister, 60% of the world’s cocoa production is produced in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, and these two nations have collaborated to establish what is known as the cocoa floor price. As a result, there is currently a minimum price level, regardless of what occurs on the international stage, below which cocoa cannot be sold.
He further indicated that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are taking a step further and working jointly to get the International community to take out the issue of premiums.
Hon. Jinapor was of the view that the move by Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire in the cocoa industry could be replicated by Ghana and South Africa in the gold sector.
The Ghanaian government, the Minister said, is doing all it can to come to grips with illegal mining activities known in Ghana as ‘galamsey’, in Australia as Prospecting, and in South Africa, as Zama zamas and charged his technical team to consider the governance structure of the South African delegation since their system is fused from the get-go sighting the head of their committee as a Major General concluding that theirs is a broad sectoral nature.
On her part, Major General Zulu the leader of the delegation applauded Ghana for allowing her country’s top principals to engage them while they are on their knowledge-sharing tour in the country adding that the President of the Republic of South Africa tasked them to use Ghana as a benchmark to yield broader results.
Ghana and South Africa are leading producers of gold in Africa and relations between the two countries date back to pre-colonial times as both countries are members of the African Union and the Commonwealth of nations.
President Akufo-Addo remarked that farmers and citizens must collaborate to battle the galamsey threat during his speech at the 38th National Best Farmer award.
According to the President, if farmers and the general people do not cooperate with the government to eradicate the galamsey threat, the unlawful activity would wreak havoc on the ecosystem.
He contends that any restriction on small-scale mining will be more detrimental to the nation than beneficial.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, to editors of a few particular media outlets in Accra, the deputy minister explained that the small-scale mining industry contributes about 40% of the nation’s total gold production and employs over one million Ghanaians, so it has a significant impact on economic development and that it would be unwise to outlaw it.
Recently there had been calls by a number of identifiable bodies including religious bodies and OccupyGhana for a temporary ban on all forms of small-scale mining.
Mireku Duker further noted that aside from the myriad of benefits the small-scale mining industry contributes to the country, Ghana’s small-scale mining sector is considered one of the best in Africa with an enviable regulatory structure which has propelled many countries to visit the country, to learn and implement same in their respective nations.
“Zambia and Sudan have come to emulate from us and currently, the South African High Commissioner is at the Ministry with the same purpose, to understudy Ghana’s small-scale mining sector,” he indicated.
The Tarkwa Nsuaem MP in an all-encompassing presentation highlighted the gamut of measures the government has put in place to curb the illegal mining menace, which among other things include Operation Halt II, Community Mining Scheme (CMS), and Training of River guards.
“We are not just doing a talk shop here, we are on the grounds and the whole mentality is to get our river bodies cleaned,” Mireku Duker stressed.
Any kind of ban on small-scale mining, in his opinion, would be more detrimental to the nation than beneficial.
On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, the deputy minister explained to editors of a few particular media outlets in Accra that the small-scale mining industry contributes about 40% of the nation’s total gold production and employs over one million Ghanaians. As a result, it has a significant impact on economic development, making it unwise to outlaw it.
But the deputy minister stated that what was needed was the enforcement of regulations, which was what the government was doing to sanitise the water bodies and the environment.
Mireku Duker further noted that aside from the myriad of benefits the small-scale mining industry contributes to the country, Ghana’s small-scale mining sector is considered one of the best in Africa with an enviable regulatory structure which has propelled many countries to visit the country, to learn and implement same in their respective nations.
“Zambia and Sudan have come to emulate from us and currently, the South African High Commissioner is at the Ministry with the same purpose, to understudy Ghana’s small-scale mining sector,” he indicated.
The Tarkwa Nsuaem MP in an all-encompassing presentation highlighted the gamut of measures the government has put in place to curb the illegal mining menace, which among other things include Operation Halt II, Community Mining Scheme (CMS), and Training of River guards.
“We are not just doing a talk shop here, we are on the grounds and the whole mentality is to get our river bodies cleaned,” Mireku Duker stressed.
Hopeson Yaovi Adorye, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), asserted that the West views Africa as a location where they indulge in plundering, which he compared to the illicit small-scale mining practice known as galamsey.
He said that Western countries frequently recovered the money given as help to underdeveloped countries in the form of visa application costs.
Without providing any numbers, Adorye explicitly mentioned the case of the United States and claimed that the Embassy at Cantonments in Accra made more money than the US donated to Ghana in aid.
“If the G20 look at Akufo-Addo, they begin to worry because it is here in Africa that they get their resources. Just like people go into the forests to engage in illegal small-scale mining, galamsey; the West uses Africa as their galamsey site.
“They come to take all their resources from here. If America claims to give us USD100 million in aid, it all comes from the building at Cantonments. A day’s visa fees collected at that Embassy is no joke. So, they gather our own monies and give it back to us in the pretext of aid and we are happy,” he claimed.
He also slammed the credit downgrades that the Ghanaian economy was suffering alleging that the downgrades were engineered to force governments to go to the International Monetary Fund and other development partners for economic assistance.
The chiefs and people of the Asante Mampong Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region have decided not to allow any mining activity on their lands.
This is to prevent the destruction of farmlands and water bodies in the area.
It follows the issuance of a license to Eriant Company, an entity that deals in woods and registered in 2019 by the Minerals Commission for prospecting gold in Mampong.
They also gave another company, Active Target Minerals Resource, registered in September 2022, a similar license to do the same prospecting on November 1, 2022.
But speaking on Adom TV’s Badwem morning show on Friday, Member of Parliament for Asante Mampong, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, said, “Daasebre Osei Bonsu has asked me to caution all those who want to come and mine gold in Asante Mampong not to come there because he cannot protect them should anything happen to them.”
That, he said, was because they could not sit and allow their lands, farms, and water bodies to be destroyed, as had happened in many parts of the country.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, therefore, cautioned that “if anyone comes there for mining, I will organise the youth to restrict such people.”
“We don’t need anyone there for mining purposes. If you’re looking for gold, go elsewhere, not Asante Mampong,” he warned.
He stressed his readiness to do whatever it took to protect his people and the lands bequeathed to them by their forefathers.
“I am ready to lead my constituents to use every means possible to prevent and stop any prospecting or mining company that ventures into the Mampong Municipality. Mampong is a no-go area for gold mining,” he stressed.
He indicated that “we are forming a task force in the town so anyone who comes there to do mining would have us to contend with it. Daasebre (Osei Bonsu) has also stated that no mining prospecting would be allowed in Mampong, for he would not allow some people to pollute his lands and water bodies.”
Meanwhile, the youth of the town are said to be gearing up for a massive demonstration through the principal streets of the town next Wednesday to drum home their point.
This is expected to be followed by a press conference to reiterate their resolve not to allow mining activities in the town.
Meanwhile, the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu, and the Member of Parliamenthave cautioned the Minerals Commission to stop issuing licenses to companies to come and do prospecting in the area since they would not allow any mining activities in the area.
The new lawyers representing Aisha Huang in the ongoing illegal small-scale mining, galamsey, trial have identified that the third witness from the State as part of his witness made some inaccurate comments.
Nana Sarfo Prempeh, the witness had already told the court that Aisha Huang had encroached on the concession of his company, Volta Resources Ltd, to illegally mine submitting a witness statement as well as documents and receipts to that effect.
But during cross-examination, Lead Counsel for the controversial Chinese, Miracle Atta-Chey established that the witness in his earlier statement attempted to cover his operations after presenting an exhibit which indicated that the company of the witness was being investigated for mining without a license by the authorities.
Nana Sarfo Prempeh denied and explained that the situation has been misconstrued.
“The investigators were misconstrued until they met me in person to hear my version. I was called into this case because the accused was being investigated for illegal mining and I was able to assist with evidence against the accused whereby Volta Resources had been a victim of Aisha Huang’s illegal mining,” Prempeh told the Court.
When asked if he had met Aisha Huang before, the witness hesitated before answering that he had met her through her mining activities.
He further explained that after his outfit reported the Chinese national’s illegal mining operations to the IGP, officials were dispatched on different occasions to seize her equipment from the mining concessions.
Find below some of the exchanges between Aisha Huang’s legal team and the State’s witness, as published by Accra-based TV3.
Lawyer: Have you met the accused in person before?
Witness: I’ve met her through her activities. One in October 2017, 4 of her excavators were seized by law enforcement agencies and deposited at the 4th battalion infantry in Kumasi.
In Feb 2016, VR made a complaint to the IGP against illegal activities of Aisha Huang and a team of officers were dispatched all the way from Accra to the concession and seized 2 of her machines.
In Aug 2016, the Ashanti Regional Security (Regsec) undertook an operation and seized her machines. In Jan 2017, the Bekwai district police undertook an operation at the concession of VRL and two of her machines were seized.
Lawyer: I put it to you that the accused person does not own any excavator or mining equipment as alleged by you.
Witness: the accused person has always made an appearance claiming ownership of the seized equipment. Unless the accused can show receipts or evidence to show who ahhe was renting the equipment to use got the illegal mining on the concession.
Because in every instance that VRL caused machines were being used for illegal mining it’s the accused that Media report covering a demonstration by residents at Gyaaman and Bepotenten whereby Ms Aisha Huang is being accused of mining and destroying the farms and drinking water of those residents. And that demonstration was covered by the media.
Lawyer: Have you been present in person all the incidents that you have narrated to this court regarding the alleged seizure of equipment?
Witness: in some instances yes, in others, no. May the court note that VR is a company so the director need not always be there but I myself have been there.
The trial hearing continues on Tuesday, November 29.
Nana Boakye Darkwa, the Benkumhene of Asamang-Tamfoe in the Eastern Region who was reportedly dismissed by the Okyeman Judicial Council headed by the Okyenhene has refuted the charge of illegal small-scale mining over which he was reportedly removed.
He stated in an interview on Citi FM (November 23) that it was rather his strong stance against galamsey that had resulted in people around the Okyenhene scheming to have him removed so that they can pursue their parochial agenda.
“I am not a galamseyer and I have never been involved in any galamsey and he knows. You (Judicial Council) invite me and the agenda is to come and speak about galamsey and siphoning the community’s money.
“When I get there, you throw all these things to the jargon and ask me why did I do the press conference. Those who came to the town firing indiscriminately like Boko Haram, where are they, have they been cautioned? Where are those people?” Nana Boakye Darkwa questioned.
The press conference in question is one that he held weeks back after members of the Okyeman anti-galamsey task force who has ostensibly gone to his jurisdiction to combat the scourge clashed with some indigenes.
He accused members of the task force of heavy-handedness yet sought to scapegoat him. “They have been shielded so they are looking for a scapegoat, that is me. They have failed.
“They think they can disgrace me, they are disgracing themselves…. They are looking for land here to mine and I have resisted it so they are looking for my removal so that they can get the chance to come and mine here and I will never allow them to come and mine here,” he stressed.
“I have said it time and time again. I have been a thorn in their flesh, so they are looking for a way to take me out so that they can get a chance to come and mine. That is it, period.”
He also mentioned two allies of the Okyenhene, who he claimed were into galamsey activities. “One man called Dabehene of Kyebi and his cousin called Owuraku. I have mentioned their names several times… I am not afraid of them, I have mentioned their names all over.”
The embattled chief also insists he remains at post despite reports that he had been destooled on the orders of the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
“I have not been destooled. It is a false propaganda by the State Secretary and Okyeman and the Okyenhene himself,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.
He explained further that his position on the purported dismissal was anchored on the fact that he did not swear an oath before the OKyenhene and thus, his removal did not lie with the Okyenhene but rather his boss, Osabarima Kwame Ko II, who happens to be a sub-chief of the Okyenhene.
“I don’t swear an oath to the Okyenhene, I swore the oath to my chief, Osabarima Kwame Ko, and the tradition is like ‘who hires, who fires.’ I didn’t swear an oath or any undertaking to the Okyenhene’s palace, I swore an oath to my chief,” he added.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has questioned the outcomes of all the interventions made over the years to tackle the growing menace of galamsey activities in the country, involving security services such as the military and the police.
He explained that in the instances of some of these military interventions like the Operation Vanguard and other similar operations, instead of any major outcomes, the people were rather reported to have gone to brutalize the locals.
“Right now, we are criminalizing all these young people and we send soldiers: Vanguard and all these people, they go and molest the locals,” he lamented.
President John Agyekum Kufuor further expressed worry over the fact that it is yet to be known if any of these interventions produced results such as a team returning with pots of gold.
He also wondered if it is the case that these teams do not discover the gold that is mined in these small-scale mining sites or not.
“I haven’t heard of such expeditions coming back with, say a pot of gold back to Bank of Ghana.
“So, what’s happening? Don’t they find the gold? Everywhere we are getting Chinese and you haven’t heard any Chinese people reporting with the gold they got from our lands and waters,” he wondered.
John Agyekum Kufuor was speaking at a Seminar on Reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at his residence at Peduase, in the Eastern Region.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has questioned the outcomes of all the interventions made over the years to tackle the growing menace of galamsey activities in the country, involving security services such as the military and the police.
He explained that in the instances of some of these military interventions like the Operation Vanguard and other similar operations, instead of any major outcomes, the people were rather reported to have gone to brutalize the locals.
“Right now, we are criminalizing all these young people and we send soldiers: Vanguard and all these people, they go and molest the locals,” he lamented.
President John Agyekum Kufuor further expressed worry over the fact that it is yet to be known if any of these interventions produced results such as a team returning with pots of gold.
He also wondered if it is the case that these teams do not discover the gold that is mined in these small-scale mining sites or not.
“I haven’t heard of such expeditions coming back with, say a pot of gold back to Bank of Ghana.
“So, what’s happening? Don’t they find the gold? Everywhere we are getting Chinese and you haven’t heard any Chinese people reporting with the gold they got from our lands and waters,” he wondered.
John Agyekum Kufuor was speaking at a Seminar on Reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), at his residence at Peduase, in the Eastern Region.
Since the release of the undercover investigation documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, many have questioned why the undercover investigative journalist will entice his culprits with money and persuade them to accept the money as a gift.
This modus operandi by Anas Aremeyaw Anas has been described by many as entrapment but the celebrated undercover journalist has been explaining why he exposed Charles Adu Boahen in his latest undercover investigative documentary dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’.
According to him, his Tiger Eye P.I. decided to investigate people like Charles Adu Boahen, the dismissed Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, who have the power of the state to make deals that are attractive for investors.
He said in an article published on Monday, November 14, 2022, that corruption has been a major factor that is killing investor confidence in the country, therefore, it is appropriate to go undercover and expose all those making Ghana unpopular to investors and also expose those who have decided to cut deals at the expense of the state.
“Tiger Eye investigates the highs and the mighties. This time, our cameras infiltrated the impermeable underworld of the handlers whose seals make the deals that make Ghana attractive for investors or not.
“Many reports have cited corruption as the number one killer of investor confidence in Ghana. The banking sector crisis further exacerbated the already fragile situation of investor confidence.
“Who are those making Ghana unattractive for investment? What’s their modus operandi? Where do they operate from? Tiger Eye penetrates and exposes the handlers who cut deals at the expense of the state,” Anas Aremeyaw Anas explained in a post on his Facebook timeline.
Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, was by the president fired for reportedly negotiating an ‘appearance fee’ with ‘investors’ on behalf of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In Anas’ documentary, the former minister among other things alleged that Dr. Bawumia will require about USD200,000 as an appearance fee from an investor to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.
“You mean, like appearance fees and stuff?” the investigators asked, to which Adu Boahen responded: “I mean he, himself (the Vice President), if you give him some (USD) 200,000 or something as a token, as thank you, appreciation, that’s fine. He’s not really, he’s not really (like) that. All he needs is to worry about his campaign money in 2020,” he said.
But Dr. Bawumia in a statement on Monday, November 14, denied the accusations and called for an investigation into the allegations.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Presidency announcing the dismissal of Adu Boahen as a Minister of State said, “After being made aware of the allegations levelled against the Minister in the exposé, ‘Galamsey Economy’, the President spoke to Mr Adu Boahen, after which he took the decision to terminate his appointment, and also to refer the matter to the Special Prosecutor for further investigations.”
The statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications added that the President thanked Mr Adu Boahen for his strong services to his government since his appointment in 2017 and wished him well in his future endeavours.
What Kweku Baako said about Anas’ undercover investigation.
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, defended the modus operandi his protégé, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, employs in his undercover investigations.
To him, Anas will continue to use the undercover methodology to unearth any and all negatives within society whether it pleases his critics or not.
Addressing the Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye P.I. modus operandi in a Facebook comment, Kweku Baako agreed, however, that it is ok for those who do not agree with Anas and his methodologies to ask questions.
“People are entitled to ask questions of Tiger Eye and its “methodologies”. That’s fair game. No problem. Tiger Eye will continue to unearth any and all “negatives” applying its “methodologies” whether its critics like it or not!” he wrote.
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, has been asked to review the enterprise of undercover investigative journalism of his protégé, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
According to Professor Kwesi Yankah, a former Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, the modus operandi of the undercover journalist, hitherto known to be a classic venture, has for some time now appeared to be limping.
He said the journalist has been accused by his culprits of entrapment, something that is gaining enough grounds lately.
In a long article, Professor Yankah questioned, “Is Ghana losing this great morality tool? Is the project heading towards commodification?”
The former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, recounting his numerous encounter with the journalist, expressed his disappointment with how the latest undercover investigative documentary of Anas Aremeyaw Anas dubbed ‘Galamsey Economy’ tends to deceive the public.
To him, as the name sounded, ‘Galamsey’, he thought the investigation was about how some nation saboteurs were destroying the environment and the water bodies in their quest to find gold.
“The announcement of his forthcoming project, ‘Galamsey Economy’ thrilled me and got me heading to town to grab a ticket. The theme somehow merged with my own, and I started dreaming sympathies with my little anti-galamsey efforts.
“I called my friend Ace, who disappointed me saying a synopsis of the show in the media, had nothing to do with Galamsey. Ouch! That was a blow below the belt. My day was ruined, and I did a quick u-turn and headed back home chewing roasted corn.
“The deceptive title, Galamsey Economy, gave enough clues that the pet boy probably regressed while I was looking away. Did somebody censor the original story and decide to give the game away, a Freudian slip?
“That didn’t sound like the Anas I had learned to admire,” Professor Yankah said in his article.
He added: “November 2022, a few days ago, and six years after Central, Anas was playing at a theatre near me; but I responded with waned enthusiasm. The once classic venture appeared to be limping, and claims of entrapment by culprits, were gaining ground.
“…Has the pet Anas even decided to shield the true monsters of galamsey?
“Kweku Baako, mentor of Anas, I urge you to pause and review the entire Anas enterprise, or simply call it a day.”
Read Prof Kwesi Yankah’s full article below:
My time with Anas
By Prof. Kwesi Yankah
I was all set, going to see the latest operation by this mystery man, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who for two decades had gotten Ghana turning on his five fingers.
He had gotten the smartest Ghanaian, big or small, looking over his shoulders in every little move on the wrong side of the law.
A single bat of the eyelid from behind his beaded veil gets men of fame tumbling from high heights and whimpering like day-old babes. Call him a gladiator of national values, but he was also an investigative journalist written in bold.
The announcement of his forthcoming project, ‘Galamsey Economy’ thrilled me, and got me heading to town to grab a ticket. The theme somehow merged with my own, and I started dreaming sympathies with my little anti-galamsey efforts. I called my friend Ace, who disappointed me saying a synopsis of the show in the media, had nothing to do with Galamsey. Ouch! That was a blow below the belt. My day was ruined, and I did a quick U-turn and headed back home chewing roasted corn.
The deceptive title, Galamsey Economy, gave enough clues that the pet boy probably regressed while I was looking away. Did somebody censor the original story and decide to give the game away, a Freudian slip?
That didn’t sound like the Anas I had learned to admire. In truth, I had met him twice. First, the real human Anas Aremeyaw Anas, eyeball to eyeball; and years later Anas as a phantom, a hooded scarecrow. Being a writer myself, I knew his early beginnings as a slim, scrawny journalist working for Kweku Baako’s Crusading Guide in the 1990s. I later met him when he came to do Law at the University of Ghana, and visited my office as Pro-VC for student and academic affairs; that was around 2006. He was a very simple and charming personality, far from a little monster, snooping and tracking executive vices. But I somehow lost track of him, until I started seeing glimpses of the cool gentleman, winning global awards with spellbinding stories.
I was stunned by his early investigations like Ghana’s Mad House, where undercover Anas virtually turned into a crazy man, and entered the asylum in Ghana here, as a patient.
He went on admission, and from day to day ate with inmates and, like them, got injected with daily doses of all relevant medication, depressants and all. And why take this trouble? He had sacrificed his life for the sake of unearthing the story of gross human rights violations in mental institutions. That masterpiece in investigative journalism led to the passage of the 2012 Ghana Mental Health Act. Wow! That was a man after my heart.
Over the years, he had become a household name in the subregion and beyond. Otherwise, how could Anas have attracted the attention of global statesman Barack Obama, then US President? In his speech while in Ghana in 2009, Obama drew attention to “that courageous journalist, Anas, who risked his life to report the truth.” I said wow again, exceedingly proud having met the young man from across my desk in Legon.
In September 2015, I was among the large throng of people who queued up at the Accra International Conference Centre, waiting to see the debut of Anas’ masterpiece on judicial corruption that exposed 34 Ghanaian judges engaged in vices of various kinds. Those judges and over 105 judicial staff had been caught on camera receiving bribes to influence judgment in Ghanaian courts. The public was indeed amazed by a scandalous underworld of sex, bribery, blackmail, corruption, by respected men in wig and their associates, who thereby decide to free rapists and other criminals and conversely throw innocent ones in jail.
Days after I had watched that project, I saw one of the shamed judges, partly disguised in a cap, and pushing a luggage towards the departure lounge of Accra airport. It was weeks later, news spread that one of the named judges had quietly left the country.
In November 2016, a year thereafter; I got a rare opportunity to interact with the man Anas, in full flight and regalia.
9th November that year, here was Anas at my doorstep. I was in full charge of Central University as Vice Chancellor, and had introduced a distinguished lecture series, which had brought to campus the likes of Dr Kwesi Botchway, Dr Mahmoud Bawumia, Professor Adigun Agbaje from Ibadan University. To sustain students’ enthusiasm, why not Anas as the next speaker? The thought alone turned the campus topsy turvy. Anas at Central? Yes. It was a scoop, and I had conspired with the dynamic director of the school of communication studies, Dr Ransford Antwi, for the surprise.
Wednesday morning. The 3000-capacity auditorium of Central University was not big enough. A rare gem was in the house. There was excitement; but also panic, a security nightmare. The question was how to host Anas without putting him in jeopardy; who would escort him; how to interact with him, etc. The campus security was on the alert, but even unsure from what direction he was coming. Did he say which access route he would use; which gate? From which direction: Tema or Aflao? The gentleman had decided to keep us in the dark.
9.45am. Anas was on campus with plain-clothed security, having somehow eluded our campus watch dogs. He had materialized.
The packed auditorium was a mix of students, staff and faculty that were all ears, to seek answers to hearsays and puzzles about the man. How does he get his several spooky stories; what makes him ubiquitous? And is this really journalism? But even before the encounter, I got a sense of his operations speaking to students. I was told Anas had student volunteers all over the country working for him free of charge. These were well-trained and could be reached anytime to assist with secret operations. Some of the students, I was scared to hear, were at Central University!
But who was Anas himself? Before us that day, at Central, were three hooded lookalikes, one of whom was the real Anas. The truth was further compounded when after my introduction of the guest speaker, all three lookalikes stepped up from the high table and stood behind microphone stand. After a moment of suspense, the real Anas took the microphone from me and announced himself, while the other two dummies stood fidgeting throughout the interaction.
The 90-minute dialogue with students was thrilling and educative, giving him the opportunity to narrate his harrowing life experiences: disguises, escapades, close encounters; frustrations, successes and narrow misses. The award-winning experience with mental patients, where he was injected with depressants, was the most audacious; and he explained the safety measures he took to reduce adverse health effects.
All eyes riveted on him, he spoke freely, pacing back and forth the crowded auditorium and bending occasionally to chat with individual students. Vigilant from a distance was his own security, that was alert, and ready to dash and intervene where necessary.
After the encounter, my staff and I returned to my office, waiting for Anas to join us for further interaction and refreshments. But that was a mirage. Anas Aremeyaw Anas had mysteriously disappeared!
November 2022, a few days ago, and six years after Central, Anas was playing at a theatre near me; but I responded with waned enthusiasm. The once classic venture appeared to be limping, and claims of entrapment by culprits were gaining ground. Is Ghana losing this great morality tool? Is the project heading towards commodification? Has the pet Anas even decided to shield the true monsters of galamsey?
Kweku Baako, mentor of Anas, I urge you to pause and review the entire Anas enterprise, or simply call it a day.
Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of National Security, has warned that terrorists may take advantage of the galamsey activities in the country.
This is because the revenue generated from galamsey activities will be able to fund the criminal activities of these terrorists.
According to Kan-Dapaah, terrorists in countries like Burkina Faso and Mali, have been attracted to gold mining areas but he assured that his Ministry has taken cognizance of the development and working hard to avert the consequences.
He noted, the Accra Initiative, which aims to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and to address transnational organized crime and violent extremism in ECOWAS member countries’ border areas.
“In Mali, in Burkina Faso, the terrorists have always been attracted to gold mining areas. Clearly, they try to make money from gold mining activities to undertake the criminal activities that they do. The criminals may want to take advantage of galamsey activities in our country to raise money to do what they do in other countries and what they may plan to do in our country.
“We are aware of this. We are studying it. We do know what has to be done in this area, and we work hard to make sure we are not overtaken by events. But clearly, one way that you can make cheap money to go and undertake some of these criminal activities is galamsey, so it’s of interest,” Albert Kan-Dapaah explained at a press briefing in Accra.
The West African sub-region has been confronted with terrorist threats, as Ghana’s neighbours Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso have suffered attacks from terror groups in recent times.
The development has compelled the government to launch the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which is aimed at encouraging citizens to report any suspicious activity.
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has stated that the government will keep burning excavators and other machinery used in small-scale mining otherwise known as ‘galamsey’.
This he said is to deter people from giving out their excavators for galamsey activities.
He warned that the move is to deal ruthlessly with big men behind the illegal mining menace.
He warned that government will not watch aloof for small-scale miners to destroy lands and water bodies.
The Regional Minister added that health workers in the region report that kidney cases have gone up due to activities by small-scale miners.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said government will not allow the activities of small-scale miners to destruct governance in the country.
“We will keep burning excavators till small-scale miners (galamseyers) stop purchasing such machines. We will definitely burn excavators used to destroy our water bodies. We will burn the excavators so that the big men who have lost their sense of reasoning will be hit the most. The mercury they use in mining directly affects Ghanaians, it’s killing so many people. Dr. Afriyie says kidney cases have gone up in the region due to galamsey. We won’t sit down for this to continue. We will not allow galamseyers to intimidate us. If we allow them to operate, they will continue to destruct governance in the country and create problems, so anyone with plans to purchase excavators for small-scale mining in the 2024 election year will think twice,” Mr. Darko-Mensah said on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo.
He questioned how the country will benefit from the region if small-scale mining activities continue without proper checks.
“We want to continue to support this country, so we will not allow small-scale mining (galamsey) to go on. Out of 700,000 metric tons of cocoa produced in Ghana, 444,000 metric tons came from the Western region, so if we allow galamsey in the region how will Ghana benefit from the region,” he asked on on the show.
Details are emerging about how Chinese national, infamous for Galamsey activities, began in the country.
The state prosecution’s third witness, a director of a mining prospecting company disclosed at an Accra High court that the 47-year-old started her operations by encroaching on his concession in 2015.
Submitting documents including maps and receipts from the Minerals Commission Nana Sarfo Prempeh told the court that he obtained a permit to undertake prospecting of minerals in areas in the Ashanti Region.
According to Nana Sarfo Prempeh sometime in 2015, Aisha Huang entered his concession and started undertaking mining activities, this he said took a toll on his company and impeded them from carrying out explorations.
The witness further explained that in an attempt to halt the activities of Aisha he wrote letters to the Regional Security Council, filed a complaint with traditional council and the Police headquarters in Accra but all proved futile as the accused continued with her mining operations.
He ultimately filed an injunction at the Bekwai District Court which was granted and the accused was barred from continuing her operations.
“I know the accused person. My knowledge of her bothers her illegal activities at the Volta resources concession. In 2015, she commenced her mining operations at the concession of Volta resources.
“She later moved to another part of our concession at Bepotenten where her Chinese workers were arrested in May 2017
“From that period of 2015-2017, we made all efforts to evict her from the land and stopped her illegal activities which all proved futile.
“I hereby state that her activities were illegal because my company Volta resources limited had been granted a prospecting license so there is no way she could possibly have a mining license over the same piece of land.
“I reported the case of her encroachment and illegal mining to REGSEC and also to the chiefs and traditional leaders of Bekwai. That also proved futile. I wish to tender into evidence a letter dated 3rd June, 2015 from Volta Resources Ltd to REGSEC as proof of our complaints about the encroachment activities of the accused person.
“In February 2016 VRL made a formal complaint at the Police HQ. A team of investigators were assigned but nothing came out of it.
“On April 11, 2017 VRL filed a writ of summons against En Huang at the Bekwai circuit Court. Edward Koranteng was the plaintiff in behalf of VRL against Aisha Huang of Kumasi.
“Volta Resources Ltd also caused to be published in the media the encroachment and devastating effect of the illegal mining activities of the accused person in its concession and the effect on host the communities.
“Letter dated 8th June 2017 with the subj being petition to IGP regarding the land seizure of excavators, machinery and equipment relevant to the case of the republic vs En Huang but nothing came out of it.
The accused person has caused tremendous devastation to the resources of VRL”
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has stressed that the government will keep burning excavators and other machinery used in small-scale mining otherwise known as ‘galamsey’.
This he said is to deter people from giving out their excavators for galamsey activities.
He warned that the move is to deal ruthlessly with big men behind the illegal mining menace.
He warned that government will not watch aloof for small-scale miners to destroy lands and water bodies.
The Regional Minister added that health workers in the region report that kidney cases have gone up due to activities by small-scale miners.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said government will not allow the activities of small-scale miners to destruct governance in the country.
“We will keep burning excavators till small-scale miners (galamseyers) stop purchasing such machines. We will definitely burn excavators used to destroy our water bodies. We will burn the excavators so that the big men who have lost their sense of reasoning will be hit the most. The mercury they use in mining directly affects Ghanaians, it’s killing so many people. Dr. Afriyie says kidney cases have gone up in the region due to galamsey. We won’t sit down for this to continue. We will not allow galamseyers to intimidate us. If we allow them to operate, they will continue to destruct governance in the country and create problems, so anyone with plans to purchase excavators for small-scale mining in the 2024 election year will think twice,” Mr. Darko-Mensah said on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo.
He questioned how the country will benefit from the region if small-scale mining activities continue without proper checks.
“We want to continue to support this country, so we will not allow small-scale mining (galamsey) to go on. Out of 700,000 metric tons of cocoa produced in Ghana, 444,000 metric tons came from the Western region, so if we allow galamsey in the region how will Ghana benefit from the region,” he asked on on the show.
The Strategic Thinkers Network Africa, STRANEK-Africa has called on the government of Ghana to adopt a long-term plan to fight illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey in local Ghanaian parlance.
In a statement outlining some of the devastating effects of the galamsey menace, STRANEK-Africa noted that the government’s efforts of fighting the illegal menace have over the years remained a promise.
The group has thus called on all stakeholders involved in the galamsey fight to contribute their quota in ending the menace whiles noting that the fight against illegal mining ought to be approached as a marathon and not a sprint.
“There are various ways in which the activities of galamsey can be curbed. STRANEK-Africa believes that there should be heavy 24 hours monitoring by the military in communities where galamsey activities is on the rise. The 24-hour military monitoring will assist in reducing the illegal smuggling of gold and the high rate of destroying forest and rivers. The country is likely to lose millions of dollars yearly to illegal smuggling. People found guilty of such illegalities should be drastically dealt with by the law. Also, significant resources will need to be invested in oversight agencies such as Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and Precious Minerals Marketing Company, the body responsible for assaying and monitoring gold exports.
“Chiefs must put their foot down and ensure that activities of illegal miners are not condoned. There must be active involvement of residents living in galamsey communities by saying ‘No’ to galamseyers in order to safeguard their environment,” STRANEK-Africa in a statement signed by Executive Director, Nii Tettey Tetteh said.
Ghanan is currently grappling with the devastating impact of unmitigated illegal mining activities across the length and breadth of the country.
Currently, several of the country’s forest reserves and river bodies are under threat from the activities of illegal miners.
Okatakyie Amoa Aturu Nkonkonkia II, Omanhene of Mpuaso/Japekrom Traditional Area in the Jaman South District of the Bono region, has warned his sub-chiefs not to tolerate any form of galamsey activity on his land.
According to him, anyone caught engaging in galamsey activity will face severe consequences.
The traditional leader stated that galamsey would not occur under his supervision.
He claimed that his forefathers had left the land to him and his people, so he would not entertain galamsey in the area.
As a result, he has urged people to report those who engage in galamsey so that they can be punished.
According to the Chief, “Galamsey will never happen in this area as long as I live. I promise my people that I will protect the land left to us by our forefathers. I will encourage you all to be vigilant and to report anyone you see engaging ingalamsey”.
The Chief of Dompim Pepesa Tufo, a suburb of Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, Tufohene Nana Awuah Koanpong VII, has claimed that at least two of the forest reserves in his area are being used for illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
According to him, his attempts to stop the menace have endangered his life as well as the lives of the people with whom he is fighting the galamseyers.
Nana Koanpong called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to support his efforts by deploying some law enforcement personnel to his community to help him stop the illegal miners.
“There is active galamsey going on in my area. There are five communities under Dompim. We have Bonsa, we have Biponekyei, and we also have Trebou. The galamsey is very prevalent in Bonsa and Trebou. Bonsa and Trebou have thick forests, and that is where the galamsey is taking place.
“When you are going to the forest at Trebou, you will see a community mining sign post, and we have President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, and the Deputy Minister of Lands, Mireku Duker, on the post.
“The ironic thing is that there is no land for this community mining in Trebou aside from the forest… there is another post there that says that this forest is not part of areas for community mining. But that is where the galamsey is taking place,” he said in Twi.
The Tufohene further stated that a community task force, he set up to fight the galamseyers were once stripped naked by people in military uniforms who were guiding the mines.
He added that if the government is serious about fighting galamsey it should come to his aid with the need force to stop it in his area.
The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, has described the uproar around the venue for the premiering of Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ latest expose on Galamsey as unfortunate.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas revealed 24 hours to the public showing of its new investigative piece on illegal mining titled ‘Galamsey Economy’, Tiger Eye P.I. that it has been prevented from screening the exposé at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
This was because the AICC which was the scheduled venue has become unavailable to the investigative media firm despite paying the charge which was increased by about 30 percent at the eleventh hour.
But in a rebuttal, the management of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) said the showing of the ‘Galamsey Economy’ documentary by Tiger Eye PI, headed by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, will go on as scheduled at the center.
The management said the matter which resulted in rescheduling of the venue, has been resolved.
Speaking in an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong said the confusion was unfortunate.
He also debunked the allegation that the earlier development was as a result of political interference.
He reiterated that the initial confusion was due to a scheduling conflict at the level of the AICC staff and not in any way a political decision as is being speculated.
“It’s a bit unfortunate, I mean the confusion between Tiger Eye PI and the AICC. But first and foremost, the issue was not in any way a political decision. The matter has been resolved. We have made contact with the organizers, and the event is expected to go on as scheduled today and tomorrow. “It had nothing to do with politics,” Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim.
