Former President John Dramani Mahama has berated President Akufo Addo for exonerating Akonta Mining owned by Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Bosiako alias Chairman Wontumi.
In a statement posted on his facebook wall Tuesday January 10, 2023, Mr. Mahama described as “unacceptable that President Nana Akufo-Addo has consistently put pressure on state anti-corruption institutions by announcing clearance of appointees and companies that are under investigation for wrongdoing.That penchant by the president to absolve his appointees and other close associates of any wrongdoing as he has done with the ongoing investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining Company is a serious dent on the already deteriorating image of the Office of the President”.
He continued that, “As though proud of that dishonourable badge, ‘the clearing agent’, Nana Akufo-Addo has yet again justified the appropriateness of his nickname with the seeming presidential exoneration of Akonta Mining, a company owned by a member of his political party (NPP) and accused of illegal gold mining in the country’s forest reserves.The shocking impudence is how and when he even did that at a public event called by the country’s catholic clergy”.
John Dramani Mahama stated that ,more worrying and unfortunate is when owner of Akonta Mining came public to boast that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has explained to him they were forced to unwillingly act against his company because of public pressure from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), CSOs and NGOs.
“He also very alarmingly said the President called him ostensibly to appease him over Government’s action and that the Office of Special Prosecutor cannot touch him.This is a sad commentary for a country that has in the past been held up in Africa as the poster boy for rule of law and democratic governance”.
Mr. Mahama said “This sad development also erodes the years of hard work, which has earned Ghana international appeal in climate change and sustainable development discourse globally”.
In spite of these development, Mr. Mahama want investigation to continue for the truth to be unraveled and justice served.
“In addition, the President’s comment cannot be allowed to override or become a substitute for the statutory mandate granted the investigative bodies of Ghana by the Constitution.
Such acts fly in the face of justice and the fight against corruption, and of course erodes the faith of our citizens in our democracy.As enjoined by our National Anthem to “cherish fearless honesty” and “resist oppressors’ rule,” we must all as citizens support the anti-corruption institutions to carry out their duties fairly and courageously without undue interference by any influences”.
Last year, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources directed the Forestry Commission to ensure that Akonta mining company does not carry out any operation in the forest and to take the necessary action against any person found culpable in the matter.
This was after pronouncing all mining activities being undertaken by the company in the Forest Reserve as illegal.
But government said, while the mining company has a lease to undertake mining operations in some parts of Samreboi, the company has no mineral right to undertake any mining operations in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve.
Calls for the prosecution of persons running Akonta Mining Limited’s operation in the forest reserve have since intensified which the Special Prosecutor took over investigation.
But speaking at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Koforidua, President Akufo exonerated Akonta Mining stating that “I want to assure you all that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any form of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak,” he insisted.
His statement has since been condemned by anti-corruption crusaders in the country describing it as unfortunate interference in investigation.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
