*Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s Report on Illegal Mining Activities in Ghana : ALEI Weighs in with Call for Independent Commission of Inquiry
28th of April 2023,
The African Liberators Economic Institute (ALEI) is urging the President of Ghana,Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo to establish an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the allegations made in Professor Frimpong Boateng’s report concerning the government’s involvement in illegal mining activities.
ALEI further called upon the President and anti-corruption institutions to take immediate action on the findings of the report.
ALEI expresses concern about the leaked report by Professor Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
The report contains specific details and names of institutions and individuals allegedly complicit in illegal mining activities.
ALEI believes that these allegations require an independent investigation to ascertain their validity.
Furthermore, the report reveals the involvement of the Forestry Commission in mining activities in forest reserves and high-ranking politically influencial figures like Mr. Gabby Okyere Darko and Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
ALEI believes that the report has exposed the President’s lack of commitment to ending illegal mining in Ghana, leading to a loss of public trust.
However, the report presents an opportunity for the President to regain the trust of Ghanaians, and state institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) must work to restore public confidence.
ALEI called for the establishment of an independent, bipartisan commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations raised in the report.
Additionally, anti-corruption state institutions must proactively initiate investigations and make recommendations on the next steps.
While ALEI welcomes the PresidentA Addo’Addo’s directive to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, we believe that all investigative bodies must collaborate to allay the fears of Ghanaians that the government may influence the outcome of the investigation.
Illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey,” is a significant problem in Ghana, causing environmental degradation and other negative impacts. The government has instituted several measures, including the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in 2017, to address the issue. However, the latest report by Professor Frimpong Boateng has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to ending illegal mining activities. ALEI believes that it is critical for the President to demonstrate his commitment to fighting illegal mining in Ghana to regain the trust of the people.
Please contact
Executive Director of African Liberators Economic Institute ,ALEI
Alex Ababio on
africanliberators@yahoo.com
