The Herald’s probe into the invitation, arrest and the GH¢2 million bail granted the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has revealed that he is being asked to account for some items which went missing, while chairing the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has insisted that the defunct IMCIM did a “brilliant” job, but the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) led by William Kissi Agyabeng, thinks otherwise and has, therefore, busted him to assist with investigation into some missing items, including gold, IMCIM operation cash, excavators among others.
The Herald learnt that the items seized by the IMCIM, cannot be traced.
Aside, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, a German-trained heart surgeon, the OSP has gotten a warrant for the arrest of Charles Bissue, the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) and presidential staffer, to assist with investigations into the missing items.
Interestingly, while Mr Bissue has taken legal route by filing a writ at the High Court in Accra to prevent the OSP from arresting and prosecuting him, Prof Frimpong-Boateng, has taken the media space crying victimization.
Last month, the OSP gave the assurance that it will prosecute those found culpable of corruption and corruption-related offences in the mining sector.
In an official statement sent out to the media, the OSP, said its ongoing investigations were far-reaching and covered on matters raised in the report published by the head of the dissolved IMCIM.
The statement, signed by Kissi Agyepong, the Special Prosecutor, stated that the investigation targeted the activities and expenditure of the dissolved IMCIM, especially in respect of the seizure and & management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets.
It also involved officials of the Ministry of Lands and NaturalResources, the Forestry Commission and other public officials and private persons.
“The OSP acknowledges the recent calls for action and investigations into these matters by the public and civil society,following the publication of a report on p rts of these matters authored by a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation and head of the dissolved IMCIM,” the statement said.
“The OSP welcomes the calls for action and investigations and it assures the public and civil society that its investigation is ongoing and far-reaching and it also covers the matters raised in the report published by the head of the dissolved IMCIM.
The OSP explained that on October 10, 2022, it published that it had commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of illegal mining.
“The OSP will take necessary action against all persons deemed culpable of corruption and corruption related offences in the mining sector,” it emphasised.
Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Who did not mention the charges slapped on him by the OSP, says he would have been counted among the wealthy if he were a thief.
He stated that he could have amassed a lot of money when the opportunity presented itself, but he could not dip his hands into the public purse.
“If I were a thief, I would be one of the very wealthy people in this country. If we all thought about Ghana and had the best interests of this country at heart, we would not be where we are now,” Professor Frimpong-Boateng said in an interview with JoyNews.
He indicated that the country would be a better place if more people had the mindset he has, adding that he single-handedly built the National Cardiothoracic Centre without a pesewa from the state.
“If people behaved like I have done, this country would not be the way it is. I built a whole hospital and trained people, added structures and systems to Korle Bu with internally generated funds, and changed the way the Ghana Red Cross operates. As a minister, I introduced a lot of things that, if they had been pursued, we would have made a lot of changes in this country,” he said.
“Since I came from Germany, I planned the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the age of 39 and built this centre without a single cedi contribution from the government. I am talking about the building, and I have done many things, all in the interest of this country. I never thought about myself,” he said.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng described as legitimate the OSP’s probe, suggesting to the OSP not to be selective in its investigations.
“These are monies belonging to the people, therefore we should all account for our stewardship wherever we are. If I have done anything wrong, I stand to go before the court and answer these questions and this should apply to everyone.
“Those in charge now should know at some point they will be at the other end. If you are on one side of the table, another time you will be at the other end and also receiving questions. Whatever we are doing, we should do it in the interest of Ghana. If you do things without any selfish interest, then this country will be a better place,” the former Minster stated.
According to him, the committee helped the Small Scale Miners Association secure licenses for its members and trained them on sustainable mining practices.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s comments came after he was invited by the OSP for alleged corruption-related cases regarding certain expenditures by the defunct IMCIM, which he chaired.
“When we started, members of the Small Scale Miners Association were blamed for the ills in the mining sector, such as environmental pollution. Ghanaians were annoyed with them, so we engaged with them. There were about 3,400 of them, and they said they had challenges, such as long delays in obtaining licenses. It could take three, four, or even up to 10 years to get a license, or they might not get one at all. So when the license process was delayed, they would go out and mine illegally.”
“We developed a software called ‘Galam Stop’ that would help to speed up the licensing process. The software was so effective that if a miner started the process at the Minerals Commission, it would trigger the process at the other regulatory agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Water Resources Commission, and the Forestry Commission. This meant that, if everything went smoothly, miners could get their licenses within three months.”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng, said that the IMCIM took about 4,000 small-scale miners to Tarkwa to study sustainable mining practices. This enabled them to be vetted and registered.
“So, within about six to nine months, during the period when they were asked not to work, they were able to register thousands of miners, and they went back to work without anyone harassing them.”
Prof Frimpong-Boateng said that the “trouble” started when companies that were not part of the Association entered the field and started illegal mining. He added that the Forestry Commission, also started giving out licenses to people to enter forest reserves.
“Forty-seven forest reserves were entered and people were mining. You see, a forestry commission license does not permit you to mine. We had these challenges, and that was how we started getting into trouble.”
However, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said that the IMCIM worked with the taskforce of the Small Scale Miners Association to displace all those working on water bodies.
He had recieved his arrest about a month ago, but insisted that he is not afraid of being prosecuted by the OSP.
He insisted that he did nothing wrong to warrant such action from the Special Prosecutor.
“If I am prosecuted, I am not scared. Why should I be scared? I do not see any possibility of me being convicted. But look, in this life, the Son of God Jesus Christ was convicted and killed.”
Ahead of his arrest, Professor Frimpong-Boateng, authored a bombshell report, exposing supposed efforts by some persons to undermine government’s fight against illegal mining (galamsey), said: “If bad people want to kill you, they know what to do to kill you. If people who have the power to do things want to ditch you, they will know how to do it because it happens. So whatever you are doing, we should be careful that we are doing everything in the interest of Ghana.”
Below are excerpts from the narration:
“The background is that I received a letter from the OSP on May 13 or 14 to appear before them. I was to report on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. I did. The letter said they were investigating corruption and corruption-related activities of the IMCIM, which disturbed me a bit. I thought they were going to stop illegal mining, but anyway, I went there and was ushered into a room. My lawyers were next to me, and the Principal Investigator and some officers from that office were opposite me.
“The Chief Investigator put his left hand on my shoulder and said, ‘You are under arrest.’ I asked, ‘Why am I under arrest? What are my charges?’ ‘Well, there are no specific charges. We are investigating corruption and corruption-related activities on the committee you chaired,’” he said in an interview with Joy News.
“He asked if I was ready to answer some questions and I told him I would do my best. I was asked a lot of questions, and it took a little over 2 hours. After that, I was told I had to be bailed before I would be released. I was offered self-recognizance bail. A friend was in the lobby, so he came up and bailed me, and I left. I was told that if the need arises, I would be invited back to the office. That is what happened. And of course, some of the OSP officers went to see my friend’s place where he was staying to make sure that if I absconded, he would be able to produce me before the court.
“I don’t feel comfortable going over the questions they asked me, because this is a prosecutor investigating me. It was a broad-based question on many topics, and I answered as best as I could. And so that was it. No, they didn’t come to my house,” he added.
In the case of Mr Bissue, a writ obtained by Citi News, revealed that he received a letter from the Office of the Special Prosecutor stating that he is considered a necessary person for the investigation and demanded his presence for an interview.
In December 2022, Mr Bissue initiated legal proceedings by issuing a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim against the OSP and two others after the OSP announced in its Half-Yearly Report that it had concluded investigations into corruption allegations against him made by Tiger Eye P.I. and Anas.
In January 2023, Mr Bissue amended the writ and subsequently filed an injunction to restrain the OSP from further investigating and prosecuting him.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, was granted permission to file its statement of case in opposition to the Motion.
However, Mr Bissue has not taken any action on the injunction application, despite several adjournments in the proceedings.
