Former Minister for Environment Science Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has offered ‘fatherly advice’ to Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, following his response to claims in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) report.
He said the Minister should eschew “evil tactics” as employed by the host of Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom Okyere.
“My advice is, always remember that political power is both short-lived and effervescenti In about 2 years’ time you may no longer be in government and you may experience the real world as former high profile political power holders do.
“I will urge you to do your work diligently and avoid the coded and evil tactics Mr. Paul Adom Okyere boastfully and unashamedly told the world on ‘Good Evening Ghana’ that you employ to deal with your real and perceived enemies,” he said.
It comes after the former Minister who was the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) released a report in which he alleged that some government officials are involved in illegal mining or galamsey.
The aftermath of this has been a series of rebuttals between the accused in the report and the Former Minister.
Key among persons fighting off allegations Mr Oppong-Nkrumah who has vehemently refuted claims that he masterminded the removal from office of the Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
But in a subsequent response, the former Minister said he is not surprised that Mr Oppong Nkrumah denied the claims.
“I have read your response to what I wrote about you in the report I sent to the Chief of Staff a little over two years ago. You have denied what I wrote and that is normal. Very few people in your position will own up to their wrongdoings.
“I have good advice for you, though. When I was part of the government, we were colleagues and I related to you as such. Now I will advise you as my son, just as I do my children. After all, you are the same age as my 4th born son. When I returned to Ghana from Germany to start the cardiothoracic project you were just 6 years old as my 4th child. I will not lie to you or insult you or be harsh on you,” he said.
Prof Frimpong-Boateng further revealed that he had received a tip-off from someone from the Minister’s constituency that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey is going on in the area.
“Let me touch briefly on Illegal mining. Last week someone from your constituency sent me a video recording of illegal mining activities close to your hometown. I don’t want to believe that what the person said about your role is true. The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep. I encourage you to investigate it and take appropriate action. The President of the Republic assures Ghanaians again and again that he is serious with the fight against Illegal mining,” he said.