Asante Akyem North Member of Parliament, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, has condemned the NPP parliamentary candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, for his “irresponsible” comments urging the constituents to attack the military if they stopped them from engaging in illegal mining which is also known as ‘galamsey’.
According to the legislator, the comments from Ernest Frimpong could cause the residents their lives since the military, unlike the police, are trained to attack every enemy that comes their way.
Speaking on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, June 15, 2024, Mr. Appiah-Kubi described the parliamentary candidate’s comments as irresponsible, adding that the PC requires some tutelage to understand he doesn’t wield the power to do everything even if he becomes the Member of Parliament.
“Going to encourage people to fight the military, fight the police, that is so irresponsible. Because you are leading them into carnage. when you confront the military, the military they are trained to devow any enemy before them. They are not trained to protect life and property. It is the police that are trained to protect lives and property. So if you become reckless and say that you want to confront the military, he sees you as the enemy before him.
“He is very inexperienced. Let us educate him and let him understand that it is not everything you can do even as a political leader. And let us also not encourage people into criminality. Because when they are there, criminal action is action in persona, it is his own action. You will be staying behind. So be careful let’s watch we do, and know that even as a political leader, you are always lawful,” the lawmaker and private legal practitioner admonished.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, urged illegal miners locally referred to as ‘galamseyers’ to resist any attempt by the military or any security officer to stop them from doing their work.
Mr. Frimpong says neither the military nor any security operative currently wields the power to stop anyone from engaging in illegal mining.
“We have cancelled Operation Galamstop and the soldiers who have been tormenting you. So, officially, they don’t have any mandate to do that again,” the Amenfi East PC had stated.
He asked his constituents to fight back the officers whenever they make any attempts to intimidate them since they have no such authority anymore.
In a video going viral on social media, the parliamentary candidate, together with the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, and the MCE, is found engaging some galamseyers where Mr. Frimpong told them that nobody can infringe on their right to mine.
He advised the illegal miners to treat soldiers who are on a patrol well, admonishing them to even give them tips if they so wish. However, if there is any that wants to seize their equipment and stop them for the mere fact that he is security officer, they should fight him and he will be there to defend them.
“But if anyone comes and orders you out for the mere purpose that he is a soldier, do not look at the uniform he is wearing, if he hits you, hit him back, fight him and I will come there. Oh yes, we won’t tolerate those things.
“If he came on a patrol, then he is passing by, and that is why we are telling you that we have revoked the authority they had to arrest you. If you are doing illegal and he comes to arrest you, he is also doing illegal so arrest him back,” he admonished.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces has since issued a statement to that effect, but did not address it directly to the person in the video, which many have criticised.
‘I, Regional Minister and MCE will protect you from soldiers – NPP PC to ‘galamsey’ operators
