By Edzorna Francis Mensah
The NDC is demanding the immediate resignation of the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame for what the Party described as his “dubious attempt to cover up serious crimes” that have been perpetrated against the state by “corrupt government and NPP officials” who are destroying water bodies and forests through illegal mining in many parts of the country.
The Party also called on the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Adjabeng to expedite his investigations into matters related to illegal mining and to immediately prosecute all those found culpable.
NDC claimed to have sighted a rather “disgusting, self-serving and bizarre” advice from the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, on the report on the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee Against Illegal Mining (IMCIM), authored by its Chairman and former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology,” Prof. Frimpong Boateng.
“Having meticulously analyzed the content of the Attorney-General’s legal opinion, we have come to the irresistible conclusion that the said advice is nothing but a poor attempt to cover-up the complicity of officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the ruling NPP in the illicit galamsey trade”.
The Party described the Attorney-General’s latest step or call it a “misstep”, on the subject of this all-important, scathing Galamsey report, is part of the coordinated efforts to whitewash the crimes of many in government since this matter first broke.
Speaking at the press conference in Accra titled: Moment of Truth under the topic AG’s supposed advice on Frimpong Boateng’s galamsey report is nothing but a cover-up – he must resign immediately, ” lawyer Sammy Gyamfi the National Communications Officer of the Party said, “our collective survival as a people is at stake.
Our beloved country is fast losing its flora, fauna and water resources. We are fast becoming endangered species due to the greed and selfishness of a few government officials, party apparatchiks, and irresponsible persons who are recklessly engaging in illegal mining with impunity”, as he maintained that, “we cannot sit aloof and allow this canker to fester. If we close our eyes to the evil going on, we shall all bear the consequences of the actions of these miscreants who are destroying our water bodies, lands, and forests in search of gold to satisfy their greed”.
“This is why we must all take a keen interest in investigations into this matter. We cannot and must not accept any shoddy investigation or farcical attempt to whitewash this monumental scandal,” he added.
According to him, enough of the plundering and destruction of the lands, forests, and water bodies, and “all government officials and party apparatchiks, who have in one way or the other engaged in illegal mining must be arrested, prosecuted and punished no matter whose ox is gored”.
He used the occasion to serve notice, that “even if they are left off the hook today, they will not escape the long arms of the law tomorrow, because crime has no expiry date. Until this is done, we shall make no headway in our fight against illegal mining, and our beloved country will have no sustainable future”.
Sammy Gyamfi employed the media, and the fourth estate of the realm to join them in demanding accountability from the duty bearers, “we owe this a solemn duty to our country and generations unborn”.
