[ 2017-05-09 ]

Amewu backs Okyenhene in BNI galamsey report scandal
The Ministry of Lands of Forestry has jumped to
the defence of the Okyenhene  in a recent BNI
report accusing the Okyehene and his palace as
being complicit in illegal mining activities.

A statement issued Tuesday and signed by the
sector Minister John Peter Amewu says the report
neither accused the Okyenhene nor his Palace of
being involved in galamsey activities.

The report, he explained only cited a perception
that the Okyenhene is "behind illegal mining
activities in the Kibi area" and also accused an
anti-galamsey task force constituted by the
Okyenhene of extorting monies from illegal
miners.

The report intercepted by Joy FM also named MP for
Talensi, B.T Baba and a not too popular NPP
financier Bunyak Kolog better known as Polo, as
engaging in the illegal mining activities.

Shocking as it was, the report confirmed widely
held opinions that powerful hands were behind the
illegal mining activities threatening the survival
of the country's environment and water bodies.

The Okyenhene has since debunked claims and
assertions made in the report.

His lawyer, Kwame Acheampong Boateng on Saturday
called into Joy FM's news analysis programme
Newsfile, vehemently denying the claims made in
the report and wondered why an intelligence report
said to have been put together by the BNI, will be
reporting perceptions instead of realities.

Mr. Acheampong Boateng said the Okyenhene has
never been involved in galamsey activities and has
on the contrary been one of the first people to
fight galamsey in Ghana.

Days after the protest by the Okyenhene, the
Ministry has issued a statement clarifying the
content of the confidential report which has since
gone viral.

Mr Amewu explained in the statement that checks by
his Ministry indicate that the anti-galamsey
taskforce at the Okyenhene Palace has been
disbanded three years ago and could not be the
case that the task force was extorting monies from
miners.

Instead of chiding the Okyenhene, the Minister
said the Palace has been instrumental in the fight
against galamsey.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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