Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has fired back at Gabby Otchere Darko on the illegal mining report.
Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a lawyer and a prominent member of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party, criticized former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, over allegations made against him in a report submitted to President Akufo-Addo.
Frimpong-Boateng in a 36-paged report wrote that “We were ready to dislodge Imperial Heritage from Kobro Forest when Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko called to inform me that he was the lawyer for Heritage Imperial Limited, a company that was destroying the Kobro and Apaprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River Offin, as can be seen in the satellite images below. I informed the President about the behaviour of Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko and he promised to deal with it.”
Gabby's denial
In an interview with Citi FM, Mr Otchere-Darko, denied interfering with the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
"It tells you how weak the [former] Minister’s understanding of his position is. If what I did was illegitimate, why didn’t he take the right action? He said he had reported me to the President, as if he is a teacher and the President is a headmaster, and I am a prefect,” he said.
He further dared the former Minister to "come and say that when I called him, I was pushing an illegitimate point, let him come and say so. I based my intervention on the legality of what my clients were doing and what I saw to be an illegitimate action of the state against a company that the same state had issued permits and licenses to operate its business.”
“If he has his own issues, let him deal with them, but he should not misinterpret a legitimate action of a lawyer on behalf of a client who had a legitimate case as a matter of interference,” he added.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng fires
The former Minister in response, however, finds Gabby's claim "laughable".
"After listening to the words of Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko I became sad for Ghana. I wondered what happened to us to get to this state, where a person who is supposed to be the lawyer of a mining company exhibited such industrial-scale ignorance about mining laws and regulations.
According to him, "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" he added.
Read his full response below
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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OH GOD SAVE GHANA , please take away those who are destroying Ghana .Let your peace still reign
FEEL SORRY FOR MOTHER GHANA WE HAVE GREEDY BASTARDS DESTROYING THE NATION, SO CALLED LEADERS WITH NO CONSCIENCE AND UNPATRIOTIC ***barred word*** WHO JUST WANT TO ENRICH THEMSELVES WHILE THE PEOPLE SUFFER....THEY WERE BLAMING UKRAINE, RUSSIA AND COVID FOr THE MESS THEY CREATED NOW THEY ARE AT EACH OTHERS THROAT OVER GALAMSEY....THEY ARE THE REAL PROBLEM....GOD SAVE GHANA
I am a NPP sympathiser but I have a feeling that this Gabby can bring Npp down. Npp communication team should be warned not to say any negative things about the respected professor.
Why should Gabby be representing a company causing such a massive scale of destruction in the first place? Don't these people have any conscience at all? There are too many people close to the circle of power who have business interests with blurry boundaries. All one needs to do in Ghana is to start something illegal and hire lawyers who are close enough to the president and that is it. If the images Frimpong Boateng shared are true then we have a serious problem in Ghana. Can this firm go to the UK and do such damage?
The images shown by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng are so powerful that if Gabby has conscience and love for Ghana, he will stop being a lawyer for such a company which is destroying our country. Indeed, all lawyers will not sign on such companies but these guys love money than their fellow Ghanaians.
And the presidency said, what was contained in the Prof's report are "HEAR SAY". These greedy politicians think they are doing Ghana, but their enjoyment is short lived. Their decedents, just like other Ghanaians, will suffer the consequences of their actions. Common sense, should tell our politicians to learn from other countries. If you destroy (directly or indirectly) our water bodies, health care system, education system, sources of livelihood etc., the entire society suffers, including you. And to the ordinary Ghanaian, until we learn to hold our politicians accountable and stop taking crumbs from them, we will continue to suffer. While they use our resources to enrich themselves.
Breaking the 8 papapAaaaa
If i were professor frimpong Boateng i will not respond to any comments from those boys alleged to be involved in illegal mining per your letter to the president . As someone who commands a lot of respect in Ghana by virtue of your outstanding medical practice you should not scoop so low to be arguing with these boys. The more you engage them the more your respect diminishes. I still insist that you made a big mistake by accepting a ministerial position considering your the calibre of person you are.
Ghana must ban or tax imported water 200% so that these politicians - MPs and ministers, officials of ministries drink Ghana water. We have water in abundance but those aiding galamsey drink imported water at their offices, conferences/workshops etc. Imported water is part of cedi volatility against dollar. Imported water must be stopped or taxed heavily.
This is a serious matter, Gabby. These guys claim to love Ghana but they are aiding Chinese to destroy this country using their political connection and hiding behind law practice. Look at the good things your grandfather - Dr J.B. Danquah did and he must be turning in his grave. It is a big shame. Well said, Prof. Boateng.