Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has denied any involvement in illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey, as claimed in a report carried by myjoyonline, a subsidiary of the Multimedia Group.
The minister, in a letter addressed to the media house, argues that the allegations made against him in the story were false, baseless and aimed at courting public disaffection for his hard-won reputation.
The minister, through his solicitors, is therefore demanding the retraction of the story and a written apology by Multimedia within 24 hours or face the legal consequences of their action.
Myjoyonline on October 10, 2022, in an interview with one Nathaniel Dekyi, who claims to be Nana Nyowah Panyin IV of Dompim Pepesa, alleged that the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, the MCE for the area and the Western Regional Minister, were hindering his efforts as the chief to end galamsey in the area.
He is also noted to have stated that he has incontrovertible evidence of the involvement of the Regional Minister and the others in illegal mining in the area.
However, the Dompim Pepesa Divisional Council, in a statement same day, disowned the said Nathaniel Dekyi, stating that he is not the Chief of Dompim Pepesa.
“We entreat the media and the general public to disregard any interview by him as he is not and has never been the Chief of Dompim Pepesa,” the statement said.
It further indicated that Nathaniel Dekyi is rather the individual involved in illegal mining, as he has sold cocoa farms to illegal miners, contrary to his allegations made against the Regional Minister and others.
“The Council wishes to state on record that the said Nathaniel Dekyi is the chief architect of illegal mining in Dompim Pepesa by selling over 40 acres of his own family’s cocoa farm to illegal miners at Trabuom/Asoampa,” it stated.
The Regional Minister has since written to Multimedia demanding them to remove the defamatory story from all their media platforms and also publish an apology on their platforms, giving it the same publicity given to the defamatory story.
“We are instructed by our client that the wild allegations by Nathaniel Dekyi are absolutely false, baseless, unwarranted and a figment of his fickle imagination. Those malicious allegations, which your media house published, are intended to defame our client, court him public disaffection and opprobrium,” a letter by Kofi Owusu Boateng of Parkwood & Mossane law firm indicated.
“Consequently, we hold our client’s firm instructions to demand from you, which we hereby do, a complete retraction and removal of the said defamatory material from all your media platforms. We are also instructed by our client to demand a written apology from you, which apology should be published on your media platforms with the same prominence as the defamatory story,” the letter demanded.
“Please note that should you fail to meet our client’s demands within twenty-four (24) hours from the date of this letter, our client shall avail himself of all remedies afforded by and at law, including but not limited to commencing legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction to seek appropriate redress,” it added.