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Attorney General’s opinion on Prof Boateng’s report incomplete and a whitewash – Martin Kpebu
Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has described Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame’s opinion on former Environment Minister, Dr Kwabena Frimpong Boateng’s report on illegal mining as a whitewash and incomplete.
According to Kpebu, the AG’s opinion should not be accepted. He thinks the AG must reverse his opinion on the matter.
The AG has concluded that Prof Frimpong Boateng’s allegations in his report on illegal mining activities in the country are empty and do not have evidence to prosecute the persons named to have committed mining and other offences.
The Attorney-General has therefore asked the police to discharge persons mentioned in the report except those still under investigation.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, October 10, Mr Kpebu explained that the Attorney General’s report does not talk about investigations in the forest, therefore they ought to move to the grounds to ascertain the facts.
He said that Dr Frimpong Boateng has no case of evidence to submit since he has already given enough pointers, adding that authorities can investigate the issue of ‘galamsey’ with the information provided so far and that Dr Frimpong Boateng is not needed to further prove anything.
“Dr Frimpong Boateng’s report itself makes it clear that Gabby Otchere-Darko called Frimpong Boateng and told him that C and J Aleska were lawfully in the forest. So from these facts, it’s clear that C and J Aleska were in the Apraprama Forest where they polluted River Offin and destroyed the forest. But he (Otchere-Darko) maintained that they had the right papers. Frimpong Boateng said they don’t.
“I don’t see any part of the report that dealt with this question. Did they go to the forest to find out what destruction took place? Did they go to the Mineral’s Commission to find out if C and J Aleska had the right papers? Did they go to the Forestry Commission? You don’t need Frimpong Boateng to come to give you any further details. No!,” he stressed.
According to him, “the moment they didn’t ask Mineral’s Commission for confirmation whether C and J Aleska – Gabby’s client, had the right to be in the forest, etc., then I knew that the AG’s opinion was just whitewashing the situation. This opinion is incomplete and we have to throw it out.”
He further questioned the authority’s time frame used to investigate Dr Frimpong Boateng’s report.
In this regard, he urged citizens with evidence of ‘galamsey’ to lodge formal complaints with the police, which he says may may force the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to reopen the case.
He also suggested that the public may also protest the AG’s opinion since it is incomplete.
Prof Frimpong Boateng in his report to the president mentioned some individuals he claims frustrated his effort and the committee he chaired from addressing the ‘galamsey’ canker.
“Throughout our struggle with illegalities in the small-scale mining sector, what baffled me was the total disregard of the President’s commitment to protecting the environment.
“I can state without any equivocation that many party officials from the national to the unit committee level had their friends, PAs, agents, relatives, financiers, or relatives engaged in illegal mining. Most of them engaged Chinese working for them.
“I am not referring to party people who had their legitimate concession and were mining sustainably as they were instructed to do.
“There are appointees in the Jubilee House that are doing or supporting illegal mining or interfering with the fight against the menace,” excerpts of the document said.
Professor Frimpong also accused a former NPP MP in the Ashanti Region of selling illegally acquired concessions at GH¢200,000 each.
According to him, this “infuriated the party in the constituency so during the 2020 primaries to select a candidate, the electorate voted against NPP MP, the then sitting MP, who was more resourced than other candidates.
However, some of the persons mentioned in the report, including the said former NPP MP, denied same.
The celebrated heart surgeon and founder of the National Cardiothoracic Centre was subsequent to his report finding its way into the public, interrogated by the police and a report was sent to the Attorney General for advice.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
