In a letter responding to Mr. Mahama’s criticism of the President on Facebook, the Minister said: “The President’s comments have nothing to do with Akonta Mining’s past or future activities, and cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be construed as exonerating the company from its activities which is past or interferes with an ongoing investigation.
READ his full letter below
I have read, Sir, with great dismay, your Facebook post regarding the comments made by the President of the Republic, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the Eastern Region, when he addressed the 28th and 16th National Congresses of the National Union. Catholic Diocese (NUCDPA).
Normally, I don’t need to respond to things you post on your Facebook page. However, due to the misinformation and politics contained in the post, as well as the attempt to disparage my integrity and that of the President on this matter, as the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, I feel the need to set the record straight.
Therefore, my response will focus on the facts, and I will try not to respond to the politics involved in the post. The undeniable facts of the matter are:
- sometime at the end of the year, there was an allegation leveled against Akonta Mining Ltd that was involved in some mining activities in Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve;
- although the company has applied for a mining lease through part of the Forest Reserve, the application has not been determined. Therefore, I have ordered the Forestry Commission to investigate the matter, and ensure that the Company does not engage in mining activities in the Forest;
- The Forestry Commission moved quickly and cleared the forest of all alleged illegal activities;
- President Akufo-Addo has been invited as Special Guest of Honor at the NUCDPA Congress, where he spoke on strengthening Church-State collaboration;
- in that Congress, a special question was asked by the Chairman of the event about illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining;
- The President responded by stating categorically that “Akonta Mining is not involved in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana AS WE SPEAK”;
- The President spoke about the situation when he made his comments, and went on to add that the Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, with the help of the military, closed all the Forests. Reserves in the country, and get rid of illegal mining activities at the time he said, and that the Government used to ensure that the situation remains permanent;
- Comments by the President have nothing to do with Akonta Mining’s past or future activities, and cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be construed as exonerating the company from past activities or interfering with ongoing investigations;
- as public knowledge, allegations of illegal mining by Akonta Mining Ltd are being investigated by the state institutions responsible for such investigations, the Ghana Police Service and the Office of the Special Prosecutor;
- when I received the report from the investigation conducted by the Forestry Commission, under my direction, I forwarded the report to the Ghana Police Service, through the Minister of Home Affairs, to assist in the investigation;
- The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Police Service then wrote to me asking for some further information, which I have provided;
- The Special Prosecutor’s Office, in its Semi-Annual Report dated December 31, 2022, also stated that the Office is currently investigating the activities of Akonta Mining and other companies regarding the allegations;
- officials of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources cooperate with these state agencies to conduct investigations and take necessary actions;
- The president, mindful of the ongoing investigation, did not speak about the company’s past activities being investigated by state agencies. Indeed, but for the specific question raised by the Chairman of the event, the President would not mention Akonta Mining;
- I also want to note that no one, and absolutely no one forced me to issue a Press Statement on Akonta Mining that was issued after the allegations of its activities in the Forest Reserve. The President also did not call Akonta Mining officials to “please” the actions taken by the Government. Such a claim, if it is really made, as you suggest, must be false and only a figment of the imagination of the people; and
- as President Akufo-Addo reiterated in Congress where he said, “Government is determined to win the war against galamsey, regardless of cost and effort.” Under our distinguished and outstanding leadership, we are committed to doing this with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and good faith in the public interest.
- Sir, while I have the opportunity, allow me to assert, without equivocation, that the record of President Akufo-Addo’s Administration in the last six years against corruption surpasses the record of eight years of the NDC.
- It goes without saying that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding for the anti-corruption agency, the establishment of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, which as I said, is investigating this matter, passed the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989). ), the speedy investigation of corruption allegations, and many others are proof of his outstanding record in the fight against corruption.
I am reluctant to set this record straight because of the unfair and unfortunate manner in which you have attacked the reputation and integrity of the Republican President, your blameless successor.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources