The former Environment Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng has fired back at lawyer Gabby Otchere-Darko over the latter’s response to his report on illegal mining.
The former minister had accused the lawyer of calling him to intervene for a company engaging in illegal mining.
He also stated in his report that some officials at the Jubilee House together with the lawyer were thwarting efforts by the government to fight illegal mining.
Mr. Otchere-Darko stated that he had not asked the minister to engage in any illegality or condone the same.
The lawyer said he only called to seek information on his client – a company that had the permits to mine in the country.
According to him, Prof. Frimpong Boateng deliberately twisted his mediation to cause public disaffection for him.
But Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has shot the response saying: “Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko, it is laughable that you claim to have called me to seek information on your client. If you needed any information, you could have called the Minerals Commission. You know I did not operate mining information services.”
“You called to tell me that your client had a valid mining licence and all necessary permits. I told you that Heritage Imperial Co. Ltd. did not possess documents permitting it to undertake active mining. That notwithstanding through your intervention the Chinese, who were arrested, were released by the task force.
“The many soldiers who were providing security service to your client’s company attacked the IMCIM task force team and damaged the vehicle carrying journalists who were covering the IMCIM operations. The unfortunate scenes were captured on camera and shown on Joy News.”
Read the full statement below:
