The Media Coalition Against Galamsey has called on President Akufo-Addo to allow an independent investigation into the allegations that the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasioko, are engaged in illegal mining.
The coalition believes that the allegations leveled against the two persons must not be ignored but thoroughly probed.The two have been accused of engaging in illegal mining activities in the Apampram Forest Reserve at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
The Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister in charge of Forestry, Benito Owusu Bio, told Citi News that although the allegations are false, the Ministry would investigate the matter.
The Forestry Commission has reportedly taken an interest in the matter and is also seeking to probe the allegations, but according to the media coalition against illegal mining, an investigation by the Forestry Commission will not be objective as the commission’s CEO has been implicated in the illegality.
Convener for the group, Ken Ashigbey in a media interaction on Thursday said president Akufo-Addo must constitute an independent committee to investigate the matter and present a fair report on its findings.
He said there was enough information that hints at the involvement of key public figures in the illegal operation.
“Who were the military people guarding at that particular concession? Who were the people who were working in that place? We need to be able to get the president to set up an independent inquiry. It should not be the Forestry Commission. Otherwise they will be judges and jury in their own case. Most of these videos, when operation vanguard goes to arrest these people you see vehicles that are there. Who are these people who these vehicles are registered to. We are not fighting small-scale mining. We are fighting the illegality of it. If it is illegal, it is not only small-scale miners. There are some large-scale miners who are also engaged in illegal mining,” Ken Ashigbey said.
We’re not involved in galamsey
Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and Bernard Antwi Boasioko, also known as Chairman Wontumi have denied the allegations.
Sir John said the only activity ongoing at the site being referred to by the minority was a reclamation exercise authorized by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi in a statement dismissed the claims saying, “the office of Chairman Wontumi wishes to state unequivocally that Mr. Antwi-Bosiako is not directly or indirectly engaged in or linked in any acts of illegal mining, neither is he engaged in any act of illegal mining in the Amansie area or in the said forest reserve, as alleged by the traditional leaders.”
The media coalition against illegal mining is playing various advocacy roles to help stop the incidence of illegal mining across the country.
The government has also adopted various measures to curb the illegality, including the deployment of a joint police and military team, code-named Operation Vanguard to clamp down on the illegality.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
The post Investigate Sir John, Wontumi galamsey claims independently – Media coalition appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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