Former Chairman of the now-defunct Inter-ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has spoken out for the first time since his controversial report on illegal mining was leaked to the media.
In an interview with UTV, the former Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology stated that he stands by every aspect of his report, which was submitted to President Akufo-Addo in 2021.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s report caused a stir when it was leaked to the public on April 20. The report implicated several officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in illegal mining activities, including Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a leading member of the party, Director of Communications at the Presidency, Lord Commey, and Information Minister, Oppong Nkrumah. However, all those mentioned in the report have denied the allegations.
Speaking on the report, the renowned heart surgeon stated that he was brutally honest with the President, and that he did not leak the report to the public. He added that the report was handed over to personnel of the Criminal Investigations Department during investigations on some missing excavators.
“I didn’t write the report for Ghanaians to talk about it. It has been two years since the report was authored. I didn’t leak it. After I was granted an interview with GTV, some CID officials visited me to investigate some comments I made in the interview concerning some excavators. I then handed over the report to them. I am not saying the CID officials leaked the report but I gave them the report to aid with their investigations and that was the end,” he explained.
Despite the controversy surrounding the report, Professor Frimpong-Boateng remains firm in his stance and maintains that he did what was necessary in the interest of the country.
SOURCE:Â Coverghana.com.gh
