NPP! BEWARE OF GALAMSEY
“Our baseline forecast is that economic hardship, the fallout from debt restructuring and poor governance will create an incumbency wave and push the electorate to seek change. The NDC, therefore, stand a strong chance of winning the 2024 presidential poll and securing a legislative majority- Report by U.K.- based Economist Intelligence Unit
Words like taciturn, reticent, laconic, diffident, and tight-lipped can hardly fit Obiri Boahen, the former NPP Deputy Secretary General. He is at worst, talkative (tending to talk a great deal) and at best, loquacious (with the power to express himself accurately and eloquently).
For a person who would defend NPP on every issue to say “no comment” when asked about his views on the current imbroglio between Professor Frimpong-Boateng and some officials at the Jubilee House on galamsey suggests that something has gone awry.
“No comment” was first used in 1950 by Charles Ross, Harry Truman’s White House Press Secretary. The “no comment” as an answer, allows the press to fill in the gap. The “no comment” response is akin to the U.S “glomar response” or “glomar denial” which will neither confirm nor deny (NCND) the existence of the information sought.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, born in 1949, attended Sekondi College, the University of Ghana, studied medicine in Germany. Returned to Ghana in 1992 and established the National Cardiothoracic Center at Korle Bu and the charitable Ghana Heart Foundation expanding the pioneering work (1960) of Prof. Charles Easman.
In March 2006, he announced (NPP) Candidature the December 2008 National Presidential Election. Akufo-Addo rather won. As a farmer, he grows jetropha and uses the oil extracts for the production of bio–diesel to drive his vehicles.
In “Deep Down My Heart: A History of Cardiothoracic surgery in Ghana” he states: “In the context of my work in Korle Bu, God’s purpose as I understood it, was the establishment of the National Cardiothoracic Center”. In 2001, he started the Frimpong-Boateng Medical Centre at Toase, occupying a large stretch of land offered by the Chief, Nana Asiamah Poku Afrifa.
In 2017, the President, appointed him the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee Against Illegal Mining. We reproduce extracts of a report he submitted to Jubilee House, described as “hearsay”- done to educate for the readers to draw their own conclusions: “At the turn of the last decade, 1900, Ghana had about 8 million hectares of primary forest. By 1950 the area had been reduced to 4.2 million hectares and further to about 1.5 million hectares by 1999…
“The (President) made the profound statement that he was prepared to put his presidency on the line to stop the destruction of the environment…
“The IMCIM was established in March, 2018… tasked (among others) to: strengthen the existing stakeholder agencies related to the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, i.e., Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Water Resources Commission and Forestry Commission…
“Despite the fact that Cabinet directed the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to “suspend the issuance of all new licenses/permits by the Forestry Commission” … and also to suspend the licenses already issued for operation in forty Seven (47) forest reserves, the directives were ignored and the destruction continued…
“Worse still…regular Ghana Army Personnel were seen providing security at illegal mining sites. What saddened me most was when Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko called to defend a company that was actively destroying the environment, especially the forests and River Offin in the Apaprama and Kobra Forests…
“GalamStop is not a task force. It is a software, unfortunately, the Forestry Commission refused to use it and the Minerals Commission approach it half-heartedly… Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (a.k.a. Sir John) was actively giving out timber concessions, even in forest reserves for logging. He also gave forestry entry permits to mining companies… including those of foreign nationals for prospecting activities at a time when the President had put a ban on that activity, through Charles Owusu, the Director of Operations at the Forestry Commission.
“Sir John had a Chinese gang doing mining on his behalf… I told the President in the presence of Sir John that the greatest danger to the forests in Ghana was Sir John…forestry reserves have been invaded by rich miners who have engaged Chinese …Honorable Joseph Albert Quarm… MP for the Manso Nkwanta Constituency… used his position as a member of the Minerals Commission to acquire large scale concessions in his district, ostensibly for community mining purpose… ended up selling the concessions to private individuals, including party members, for two hundred thousand cedis … (this) infuriated the party in the constituency … (who) voted against Hon. Quarm (losing to) a lesser known individual. There are appointees in the Jubilee House doing or supporting illegal mining or interfering with the fight against the menace. Example are Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko and Frank Asiedu Bekoe… Hon Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, became hostile and antagonist… some elements in the Minerals Commission including Mr. S.K. Boafo, the Chairman supported the position of the Ministry of Lands…angry that IMCIM was at the forefront in matters concerning small scale mining which … were among the functions of the Minerals Commission… At one point the soldiers at the site of C&J Aleska were under the command of Captain Mahama. This fine army man was killed whilst providing security for Donald Entsuah and his C&J Aleska.
“…Mr. Kweku Baako’s New Crusading Guide Newspaper reported ‘Frimpong Boateng’s Mafia Style Lands Gov’t in Big Trouble… (19th December 2018) Frimpong-Boateng goes on Rampage (Thursday, 13th February,2020). At the 71st Cabinet Meeting, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah talked about news about Frimpong Boateng and 500 missing excavators …. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah … was a member of the IMCIM and he never called me to find out what I knew about the “Missing excavators” … if Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and the likes of him have presidential ambitions they should pursue it on merit…The Senior Minister (Yaw Osafo Maafo) is reported to have remarked that Ekow Ewusi is his boy and would if there was a bad person it would be Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
“It appears the miners (in Eastern Region) are determined to embarrass the President and Osagyefuo, the Okyenhene a well-known potent environmentalist. The NPP National Women’s organizer has been a miner for over 30 years, so also the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP. I am not by this statement attributing any illegal activity to these individuals … The task force impounded two excavators and deposited them at the police station in Anyman. Frantic telephone calls were received from Capt. Kodah of the Presidential Security detail, who asked for the excavators to be released … the owner, Hon. George Kwame Aboagye, the MP for Asene Akroso is his brother. I had a telephone call from Mr. Eric Antwi of the Office of the President that the Youth Organizer of the NPP in Kyebi was excavating for gold in a field close to the house of H.E. the President of the Republic… Part of the garden of the President had been affected. Apparently, the President did not know about this.
Gabby Otchere Darko has dragged him to court, demanding GH¢10 million in general damages for defamation; also an apology and a retraction; and a perpetual injunction Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says; “I am utterly disappointed, but I forgive him”. Dennis Miracles Aboagye calls the report “bogus”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s Statement of Defence? Will it be like Macbeth; “I am in blood Steeped in so far, that should I wade no more, Returning was as tedious as go o’er? Truth stands.
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By Africanus Owusu Ansah