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A Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, has claimed ownership of the audiovisual recording device retrieved from the office of the current Minister, John Peter Amewu.

The device was discovered in the office of the Minister on Monday. It was retrieved by the National Security after they embarked on a routine screening exercise at the Ministry.

But the Public Relations Officer [PRO] at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has told NEAT FM’s morning show host Kwesi Aboagye that, a native of Israel detected the audiovisual recording device believed to have been secretly planted in the office of the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu.

According to Mr. Abraham Otabil, the Israeli [Name withheld] was at the Minister’s office to discuss security issues with him after he had raised concerns of threats in his fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’.

The set-up included a camera, a storage unit and another device suspected to be a transmitter.

Subsequent reports that emerged suggested that the device was planted by persons who were against the Minister's galamsey fight.

The Minister has been at the forefront of intense crusade against illegal mining, a source of livelihood to thousands of people in mining areas with powerful people both local and foreign behind their activities. 

Security expert Dr. Kwesi Aning speaking on TV3’s 'News 360', Monday said the device may have been planted by persons against illegal mining.

“It is natural that those whose interest is being threatened by the state will also fight back,” he indicated.

However, the former Minister in an interview with Peace FM's morning show host, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Tuesday revealed that the device was for him.

According to him, it was a gift for him to protect himself as well as monitor what goes on in his office when he was the Lands and Natural Resources Minister.

However, the device was not installed.

“That was my personal property . . . it is for me; it was a gift but it was not installed and so it was not working . . . ," he said.

Asked why he didn't take it along when leaving office, he said "it was no longer important for me and so I decided to leave it behind". 

Meanwhile, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini has urged current Ministers to install security cameras in their office so that "their security will not be compromised. It is very important".