Former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has come out to say that President Akufo-Addo was well aware of the challenges faced by the committee in addressing the issue of galamsey but did not take adequate action to solve it.
In an interview on JoyNews’ the Pulse, Prof Frimpong-Boateng revealed that the committee regularly submitted reports to the President to keep him informed about the situation. However, he noted that the President often only issued warnings to those involved in illegal mining, rather than implementing effective solutions.
The former IMCIM Chairman recounted an incident where he reported the Forestry Commission for giving out forest reserves for mining purposes, but the President only spoke with the individuals involved without taking proper action.
Currently facing accusations of defamation for naming individuals in his report, including the President’s cousin, Gabby Asare Okyere Darko, Prof Frimpong-Boateng maintains that he did not fail in his role as head of the committee. He also criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, for proposing to allocate $500 million to combat illegal mining, calling it insufficient.
On the other hand, the Special Aide to NDC flagbearer John Mahama, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari, confirmed plans by the party to invest $500 million in addressing the illegal mining menace if they win the upcoming election. She emphasized the importance of utilizing modern technology and research to combat the issue effectively.
The conversation surrounding illegal mining, colloquially known as ‘galamsey’, continues to be a significant concern in Ghana, with both political parties proposing different approaches to tackle the problem. The decision on how to address this environmental issue will ultimately lie in the hands of the Ghanaian people during the upcoming election.
