The country's mining industry is the subject of many corruption investigations, according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
These concerns include claims made in a paper written by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a former minister of environment, science, technology, and innovation.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, acknowledged recent calls from the public and civil society following the publication of the report by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the former chair of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), in a press release with her signature and the date May 2, 2023.
The OSP affirms to the public and civil society that its inquiry is continuous, comprehensive, and also addresses the issues mentioned in the requests for action and investigations and that it is the report released by the IMCIM's disbanded leader," the statement read.
The OSP declared that it has started looking into alleged corruption-related actions, including the operations and spending of the disbanded IMCIM, in a release dated October 10, 2022.
In the announcement, it was said that "the OSP will take necessary action against all persons deemed culpable of corruption and corruption-related offences in the mining sector."
Report by Frimpong-Boateng
Several members of the Akufo-Addo administration as well as prominent party members were named by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in a report that was delivered to the Presidency in March 2021 and is currently in the public domain as being involved in illegal mining and impeding the President's attempts to address the problem.
The report has been rejected by the Presidency and some of the people it mentions.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Director of Operations at the Presidency, Lord Commey, and a prominent NPP member, Gabby Otchere-Darko, are among the government appointees and NPP bigwigs identified in the article who have denied the charges.
President's response
The information was disregarded by the presidency in a statement, which also referred to it as "unfounded and hearsay."
Regarding the report's format, the statement claimed that it was not an official document but rather a list of personal complaints made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in response to some problems that occurred while he served as the IMCIM's chair.
The report, according to the statement, was sent to the Chief of Staff by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng on March 21, 2021, the day President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo opted not to reappoint him as a minister for a second term.
"The paper had no transmittal, cover letter, or addressee, indicating that it had been given to the Chief of Staff for review and action.
A formal report on the IMCIM's work would typically be given to Cabinet through the Cabinet Secretary or directly to the President of the Republic in his capacity as Chairperson of Cabinet. Notably, the IMCIM was a creation of Cabinet.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng has so far accomplished neither, the statement said.
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