What started as a fatherly advise to a son ended up with a question that sought to indict another about ongoing illegal mining activities somewhere in the Eastern region.
The brouhaha stemming from the release of the IMCIM report with allegations upon counter allegations seems not to be ending anytime soon.
A response from Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah which he said was an advise to the MP like he would have given his son of same age indicated the former has received a video from the MP’s constituency supposedly about ongoing galamsey activities that allegedly implicate the Ofoase Ayirebe lawmaker as a complicit.
According to Prof. Frimpong Boateng, he is not surprised Oppong Nkrumah is denying knowledge of the accusations levelled against him in the 37-page IMCIM report that has been leaked.
READ ALSO: Shatta Wale needs psychological and psychiatric attention – Captain Smart
“I have read your response to what I wrote about you in the report I sent to the Chief of Staff a little over two years ago. You have denied what I wrote and that is normal. Very few people in your position will own up to their wrongdoings,” he said in reaction to Oppong Nkrumah’s response to the allegations against him.
He went ahead to say that, an evidence he received about galamsey within Ofoase Ayirebi has some fingers pointing at the young MP as allegedly having some role to play in the ongoing illegality.
He said: “Last week someone from your constituency sent me a video recording of illegal mining activities close to your hometown. I don’t want to believe that what the person said about your role is true,” he disclosed.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng continued that: “The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep. I encourage you to investigate it and take appropriate action. The President of the Republic assures Ghanaians again and again that he is serious with the fight against Illegal mining.
As you well know, illegal mining does not only refer to non-possession of a concession or mining permits but also the following:
1. Mining close to water bodies
2. Diversion of tailings into water bodies
3. Mining in the water bodies
4. Use of dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide and 5. Engagement of foreigners in small scale mining.”
READ ALSO: Key suspects of soldier’s murder at Ashaiman arrested
Background
Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah responded to allegations levelled against him and captured in the report of Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Prof Frimpong-Boateng had cited Mr Oppong Nkrumah for gathering a group of journalists at the Forest Hotel at Dodowa to begin a mudslinging campaign against the respected heart surgeon while he chaired the Committee.
According to Prof Frimpong-Boateng, who was also Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the meeting of journalists from New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) media houses was to “discuss a strategy to bring me Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng down”.
He complained Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is also Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, never called him about the missing excavators though he was part of the Inter-Ministerial Committee.
“If Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and the likes of him have presidential ambitions, they should pursue it on merit and not attempt to destroy a hard working patriot, whose only ambition is work to achieve a Ghana Beyond Aid,” the old professor had concluded in the report dated Friday, March 19, 2021.
But in his reply on Friday, April 21, Mr Oppong Nkrumah wondered: “What would I, a much younger man, seek to gain from bringing down a person as well respected as Prof Boateng?
“I had no interests in his profession, his politics or his portfolios. I have absolutely nothing to gain from sullying his reputation.”
He advised Prof Frimpong-Boateng to have interrogated that call from his journalist friend about the supposed ‘secret’ meeting at Dodowa before drawing his conclusions.
READ ALSO: Ofoase Ayirebi: Police chase step-father, mother & boys who assaulted 15-year-old girl
Mr Oppong Nkrumah expressed belief that in the coming months and years, Prof Frimpong-Boateng will reflect deeply on his own actions and comments which have led to his challenges.
“Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Prof Boateng’s public spirited works and as an inspirational citizen.
“I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him.”
He says inasmuch as he is utterly disappointed, he forgives the former Cabinet Minister.
READ ALSO:‘You’ll become a leader of brigade of lies if you’re not careful’ – Smart cautions Oppong Nkrumah
By Felix Anim-Appau|Onuaonline.com
