The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has denied any involvement in alleged corruption in the fight against illegal mining.
Speaking to the press after the President’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said everything he had done was in the interest of the nation.
“Everything that I have done in this world is for Ghanaians. I have not done anything for myself. Look at me; I have not taken bribes before. I have not extorted money from anybody before. I have not done anything wrong before.”
There have been calls for him to resign or be axed during the aftermath of revelations about the disappearance of hundreds of excavators seized from illegal miners.
The Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu, even called for his arrest.
However, the Minister remained resolute when queried on the matter insisting that the state will get to the bottom of the controversy.
“Every excavator that has been stolen will be found…I don’t want to overstep what the security people are doing so let us be patient. You will get the facts pretty soon,” he said.
In addition, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng refuted claims that his son was involved in illegal mining.
“He is not involved in anything and the world will get to know soon,” the Minister said in his brief comments on the matter.
There were some reports that a company linked to the son of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Jojo Frimpong Boateng, was involved in illegal mining.
The Minister further rated the government 70 percent in its fight against illegal mining but ended the interview when confronted with the reality of polluted water bodies by journalists.
Excavator controversy
The controversy over the excavators began when Prof. Frimpong-Boateng revealed that most of the excavators that were seized from illegal miners had vanished.
He subsequently wrote a letter to the Police CID to investigate Horace Ekow Ewusi, suspended First Vice Chairman of the governing NPP, over his alleged involvement in the disappearance of the earth-moving equipment.
So far, six persons have been arrested in connection with the missing excavators, and have since been granted bail.
by Delali Adogla-Bessa
