Alex Ababio, the Executive Director of The African Liberators Economic Institute (ALEI), is urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo of Ghana to establish an independent and bipartisan commission to investigate the allegations made in Professor Frimpong Boateng’s report on the New Patriotic Party NPP, government’s involvement in illegal mining activities. Ababio emphasized the need for immediate action by the President and anti-corruption institutions based on the report’s findings.
In a press release, Ababio who doubles as editor for Ghanaian Watch expressed concern about the leaked report authored by Professor Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). The report provides specific details and names of institutions and individuals allegedly complicit in illegal mining activities. Ababio believes that these allegations warrant an independent investigation to verify their accuracy.
Furthermore, the report exposes the participation of the Forestry Commission in mining activities within forest reserves and the involvement of politically influential figures such as Mr. Gabby Okyere Darko and Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Ababio sees this report as evidence of the President’s lack of commitment to eradicating illegal mining, which has resulted in a loss of public trust.
Nevertheless, Ababio views the report as an opportunity for President Akufo-Addo to regain the trust of Ghanaians. He emphasizes the need for state institutions like the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to work together in restoring public confidence.
Ababio calls for the establishment of an independent and bipartisan commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations raised in the report. Additionally, anti-corruption state institutions should initiate proactive investigations and provide recommendations on the subsequent steps to be taken.
Ababio appreciates President Akufo-Addo’s directive to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and believes that all investigative bodies must collaborate to alleviate concerns among Ghanaians about potential government interference in the investigation.
Illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” poses a significant environmental degradation issue in Ghana. The government has implemented various measures, including the establishment of the IMCIM in 2017, to tackle this problem. However, Professor Frimpong Boateng’s recent report has raised doubts about the government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining. Ababio stresses the importance of the President demonstrating his dedication to combating illegal mining in order to regain the trust of the Ghanaian people.