Politics
Galamsey Officials Fight Frimpong Boateng in Public
You may not be aware what pushed the galamsey officials at the presidency to come out with their denials, personal threats, insults and court actions and threats. The reason, as this writer gathered, the President of the Republic felt sorely betrayed by the officials cited in the Prof Frimpong Boateng galamsey report and perhaps, for once he was prepared to lose his cool on his trusted allies.
In recent time, a Prof Frimpong Boateng investigative report on activities of some ministers of state and other gatekeepers at the presidency, have dominated national conversation. The findings of the Prof Frimpong Boateng report only became public through the inquisitive pries of some media practitioners. The learned Prof Boateng has himself disclosed that, he was not responsible for the leaks. He could have leaked the report within the two-year period that he presented the report to the presidency, if he wanted to cause mischief with the report.
That would have ensured that the report never lost its currency at a time many presidential staffers were exposed to be deeply involved in the act. Credible information coming from the presidency on the subject suggests that the President was vehemently angry when he found out that the report had found its way into the media. Although, he got wind of the report since its submission more than two years ago, It’s the media reportage that helped him to appreciate the magnitude of the galamsey destruction.
Obviously, with the deteriorating state of the economy the President seemed to have a more pressing issue on his desk and maybe his other lieutenants, especially the Chief of Staff should have held the fort for the President in the galamsey matters. Further sleuthing by this author established that, the President convened an emergency meeting when he realized that the of the Frimpong Boateng report was so damning and a slur on his government and possibly, his legacy in the future.
He, therefore, ordered all those whose names were associated with the report to attend his emergency call without excuses or hesitation. They included the chief of staff Madam Frema Opare and the cousin of the President, Gabby Otchere Darko. It was agreed at the said meeting that an official response be released immediately to mitigate the negative fall-out from the galamsey report.
Unfortunately, the minister who should have issued the release—Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was himself deeply involved in the galamsey scandal. The statement was thus prepared and released by the Communication Director at the seat of government, Eugene Arhin. Although, the statement was meant to assuage the pain of victims and many others who had been adversely affected by galamsey, the President tackled every accused person in the report one after the other and asked them to defend themselves publicly.
That explains why Gabby Otchere Darko has sued Prof Frimpong Boateng at the law court; Lord Commey has threatened a legal suit if the learned Professor refuses to retract his part in the galasey report. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah engaged in a PR stunt with the Private Papers and Printing Press Association of Ghana (PRINGPAG), but it backfired. Others like Captain Kodah and Charles Owusu have compelled their counsel to write to Prof. Frimpong Boateng about how wrong his findings were.
And therefore, threatened to take him (Prof Frimpong Boateng) to the law courts. The Professor, however, remains resolute and is determined to meet the Akufo Addo men at the law courts. PRINGPAG president, Edwin Andrew Arthur tried to put a defence for Oppong Nkrumah arguing that the so-called media meeting with Nkrumah that was held at the Dodowa Hotel had nothing to do with galamsey issues. Interestingly, Prof Frimpong’s report didn’t make any specific reference to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s meeting with the PRINGPAG.
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