Prof Frimpong-Boateng arrested for his role in work of Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining
Former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is under arrest for his role in the work of the Committee.
JoyNews is learning former Environment Minister was told of his arrest during interrogation with officers at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on May 16.
The arrest centres on alleged ¢320 million spent by the Committee but yet to be accounted for.
IMCIM was established government to clamp down on illegal small mining also known as galamsey which was causing havoc to the country’s water resources and lands.
JoyNews sources say he is to account for drones and other equipment bought to be used for the fight against galamsey.
He is on a ¢5 million bail.
Last month, the OSP invited Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng over alleged corruption in the activities of the defunct IMCIM.
The renowned surgeon was invited as “a person necessary for investigations” into the allegations and was expected to assist the Office investigate the claims.
In January 2021, President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dissolved the Committee on Illegal Mining which
The President’s decision was to move the fight against illegal mining from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng had earlier said his team is far advanced in the probe of illegal mining activities in the country.
He said issues highlighted in a recently leaked report conducted by the former Environment Minister, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng were already being investigated.
Mr Kissi Agyebeng revealed that the investigations followed calls by the public for the office to take a keen interest in the report which exposes many infractions in the fight against the canker.
It also names top government officials supposedly involved in the activity.
This included an allegation that a garden in President Akufo-Addo’s Kyebi home was also affected by illegal mining which took the Minister’s intervention to halt.
However, most of the government officials named in the report have denied any wrongdoing.
Source: Ghana News
