*For Immediate Press Release*
*PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE ASHANTI REGIONAL MINISTER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL MINING (GALAMSEY)*
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen from the Press!
I have called you today to brief you on facts relating to the unfounded allegations against our Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene.
I am Isham Alhassan, the Ashanti Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as well as the Ashanti Regional Political Coordinator. Over the past weeks, I was out of the Country on some official assignment.
Upon my return, I have taken notice of recent allegations regarding my Regional Minister’s involvement in illegal mining activities (galamsey). I categorically deny these allegations and assert that they are baseless and without merit.
The Hon. Regional Minister has always been a champion of sustainable development and environmental protection, working tirelessly to promote responsible mining practices and combat illegal mining in the region. Clear examples can be made of his tireless effort to resolve the confrontation between Asanko Mining Company Ltd. and the local Community in Amansie South District. Similarly, during one of his official visits to China, he categorically warned of those non-conformist Chinese Citizens who engage in illegal mining in Ghana especially in the Ashanti Region to stay off our river bodies and forest reserves. His lead role in ensuring that degraded lands and forest reserves in the Region are reclaimed cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, the allegations are an attempt to tarnish the Minister’s reputation and undermine his efforts to promote good governance and responsible mining.
In this regard, I challenge anyone with evidence of the Minister’s involvement in illegal mining to come forward and present it. I assure the public that the Minister is committed to transparency and accountability and will cooperate fully with any investigation. I put my office on the line and will resign effective immediately if anyone produces any evidence against the Minister in this regard. He is a young man who God in his own way bless him with such wisdom and hating him will not bring anything good to anyone who does so.
Dr. Frank Amoakohene is doing an overwhelming job in the Region and collapsing the very base of the NPP. If the NPP or any other person or group of persons think this propaganda can bring him down, then they better fasten their belts because he is just about turning on the ignition. He is focused and will continue to remain focused, and I am proud to have him as my Regional Secretary and Minister at the same time.
Let me send a word of caution to my own NDC folks who think Dr. Amoakohene is too young to hold this position and for that matter attempting to tarnish his image, he is a ‘small boy with big God and no amount of internal machinations will bring him down. He is a young man with brighter political future and this we must all jealously protect and project. Let us be cautious of our public utterances against one another.
To conclude, Ladies and Gentlemen, I -ISHAM ALHASSAN- am SAYING IT AGAIN THAT ANYONE WHO HAS EVIDENCE OF MY MINISTER’S INVOLVEMENT IN GALAMSEY SHOULD BRING FORTH THE EVIDENCE AND THAT I WILL VACATE MY POSITION TODAY. I therefore urge the public to disregard these baseless allegations and remain focused on the government’s efforts to promote development and protect the environment. We will take all necessary steps to protect the Minister’s reputation and ensure that justice is served.
THANK YOU
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