Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey
Convenor of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has called for the arrest of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie Central.
This follows explosive allegations contained in the recent Hotline Documentary titled ‘A Tax for Galamsey.’
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Mr Ashigbey described certain public officials as the core of the nation’s illegal mining crisis, labelling them “firefighters who themselves are the arsonists.”
His comments were directly aimed at the Amansie Central DCE, who was implicated in the documentary. Mr Ashigbey urged law enforcement to act swiftly.
“This particular DCE, we need to immediately ensure that he is arrested. Investigations are carried on. So not only should he be arrested by the police, definitely there’s some corruption and corruption-related activities in there,” he stated on Monday.
He further called for the involvement of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), noting, “The special prosecutor, we have seen him acting also with these things. This is also one of the cases that we need to deal with.”
Mr Ashigbey argued that the fight against ‘galamsey’ is being sabotaged from within by political appointees entrusted with protecting natural resources.
He drew a sharp contrast, claiming that while some DCEs privately reach out to affirm their commitment to the fight, the Amansie Central DCE, based on the documentary’s evidence, stands accused of complicity.
“People like his ilk who have been appointed to be the president’s representative in the district, but they themselves are deeply involved in it… definitely not this DCE, based on the work that you have done,” he said.
The anti-galamsey advocate ended with a stark and forceful demand for accountability from all compromised officials.
“And so we should be asking for this DCE. We should be asking for any DCE who is giving permits to any of these people, we should be asking for their blood.”
The documentary ‘A Tax for Galamsey’ uncovers a coordinated system where illegal miners allegedly pay regular fees to operate, suggesting high-level collusion.
Dr. Ashigbey’s public call for arrest piles pressure on authorities to investigate and prosecute the officials named, testing the government’s stated resolve to end illegal mining.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has assured Ghanaians that all individuals found culpable in the alleged illegal mining taxation scheme exposed in a JoyNews Hotline documentary will face the full rigours of the law.
Speaking on the same show, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the government will not shield anyone involved in wrongdoing, stressing that accountability applies regardless of status or political affiliation.
“Once evidence of wrongdoing comes to light, you’d be taken up. It doesn’t matter who is involved. Whilst there’s evidence of wrongdoing, the law will take its course,” he stated.
His comments follow revelations in the investigative documentary, which alleges the authorisation and collection of illegal mining-related taxes in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com