John Boadu
GENERAL SECRETARY of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Isaac Ken Yeboah to investigate and possibly arrest the author of a video circulating on social media alleging he (Boadu) is involved in illegal mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
In the said video, the author identified as Ike Oscar Obinim claimed that the NPP top scribe owns a fleet of excavators parked at a location in Asankragua in the Western Region which he used for illegal mining contrary to the orders from President Akufo-Addo for illegal miners to stop their illegal activities.
Mr. Boadu reiterated his innocence in the allegations and urged the CID boss to carry out full investigations into the allegation and arrest all who may be involved in the “scandalous act.”
“I am, by this complaint, calling for full investigations and possible arrest of all involved in this scandalous act to tarnish my hard-earned reputation and image.
“I do state categorically that, I do not own the said property and or excavators as alleged in the video,” he buttressed.
On June 8, the NPP General Secretary, in a press statement signed on his behalf by his Press Secretary, Alhaji Iddi Muhayu-Deen, debunked similar claims of his involvement in illegal mining in parts of the country where the phenomenon was prevalent, describing the allegations as “baseless, malicious and unmeritorious.”
According to him, the allegations were false and deliberately being made by his detractors with the view to injuring his hard-won reputation and to lower his good image in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the General Secretary wishes to state emphatically that he has no mining concession anywhere in the country or elsewhere, whether acquired and operated legally or illegally; and has not authorised anybody to operate a mining concession on his behalf.
“He has also never owned an excavator or a mining concession nor has he ever been involved either directly or indirectly in any form of mining activity in the past or at present,” he stated.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio