The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame for his alleged dubious attempt to cover-up serious crimes that have been perpetrated against the state by corrupt government and NPP officials who are destroying Ghana’s water bodies and forests through illegal mining.
The NDC made the call at the ‘Moment of Truth’ press conference held at its Headquarters on Monday, October 16,2023.
Read Also: Darling Lemon Amammere Hemaa: Naa Ode evicted
Addressing the Press conference, National Communications Officer for NDC, Sammy Gyamfi Esq. alleged that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government is neck-deep in the illicit galamsey trade and will stop at nothing to cover-up their complicity.
He was also of the view that the advise by 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
was 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.
“Like many environmentalists and patriotic voices, the NDC is deeply worried and appalled by the extent to which President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Alhaji Bawumia have gone to encourage and condone the destruction of Ghana’s environment,” He said.
Sammy Gyamfi continued that,”They have been active collaborators and promoters of the “galamsey trade”. Their actions through their Attorney-General to continuously protect corrupt officials of the ruling NPP and the government, speak loudly. Posterity will never forgive them.”
According to him, as far back as 22nd April 2023, the Office of the President in commenting on the 36-page leaked “galamsey” report “ stated, that the report was “a catalogue of personal grievances”, and that the claims in the report were unfounded and amounted to “hearsay.”
He noted that this was followed by an advice by the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame on 11th May, 2023, for the damning Frimpong Boateng “galamsey” report to be given “little attention”, a comment that was widely published by the media.
“Little wonder, that the Attorney-General will in September 2023 advise that the said report lacks evidence to ground any prosecution,” Sammy Gyamfi said.
He continued that,”The sinister agenda by Godfred Dame to downplay and cover-up the damning “galamsey” report and the revelations therein, was manifestly clear right from the outset.”
He stressed that,”In short, the so-called advice from the Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame is nothing but a cover-up calculated to whitewash the incessant corruption and nation-wrecking conduct of officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the ruling NPP, who have been indicted by Prof. Frimpomg Boateng for engaging in galamsey.”
He said the advice from the Attorney-General and principal legal advisor to the Government is a big insult to the sensibilities of the nation, calling on the general public to treat same with utmost contempt.
He therefore called on the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Adjabeng to expedite his investigations into this matter and to immediately prosecute all those found culpable.
“Fellow countrymen and women, 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 an 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.
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,” he said.
He continued,”This is why we must all take keen interest in investigations into this matter. We cannot and must not accept any shoddy investigation or farcical attempt to whitewash this monumental scandal.”
Sammy Gyamfi added that,”We hereby 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.”
