The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has thrown its weight behind calls for President Nana Akufo-Addo to take a keen interest in the alleged missing excavators and gold saga.
The latest call comes on the back of a similar one made by the Concerned Small Scale Miners.
In an interview with Citi News, General Secretary of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Rev. Emmanuel T. Barrigah said the Council expects that people found culpable in the ongoing investigations will be dealt with.
“Thank God some people have been arrested and investigations are ongoing. As a council, we can only pray that the investigations are brought to a proper conclusion with a report to the public so that if anyone is found culpable, the laws are made to deal with those people.”
“Quite often in Ghana, when such issues come up, we do not hear of any report and the people are exonerated or no action is taken. Since the President has committed himself to the fight against galamsey, he should take a personal interest in this matter and not interfere with the work of the security agencies,” he added.
Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng disclosed recently that most of the excavators that were seized from illegal miners had vanished.
Ekow Ewusi was contracted by the government to cart excavators and other vehicles and pieces of equipment seized by Operation Vanguard to designated areas for safekeeping.
So far, six persons arrested over the disappearance of the missing equipment have been granted bail.
The six, including Ekow Ewusi, have been cautioned with the offence of stealing and abetment to stealing.
Missing gold
The President of the Concerned Small Scale Miners, Michael Kwadwo Peprah has also alleged that several ounces of gold seized from illegal miners by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining between 2018 and 2019 have gone missing.
Interdiction, dismissal of Ministers
Many have demanded the interdiction of Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng and John Peter Amewu, former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources over the current development in the mining sector.
The Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu had earlier called for the arrest of Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng for his alleged role in the disappearance of the hundreds of excavators seized from illegal miners.
“He [Frimpong Boateng] should be the one who should be arrested for first of all breaching the law and paving the way for others,” the MP told the media on Wednesday.
“He didn’t follow the law and as a result, the constituency chairman [and] regional chairman, now have the opportunity to take part in the vanishing and sale of these excavators,” Mr. Mutawakilu added.
