The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has reacted to former president John Mahama’s comments on President Akufo-Addo’s defence of Akonta Mining Limited.
Mr. Jinapor said he was reluctant to respond to the ex-president however, “due to the gross misinformation and political spin contained in the said post, as well as the attempt to disparage my integrity and that of the President in respect of this matter…I deem it necessary to set the records straight.”
Former President, John Dramani Mahama had criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo for absolving Akonta Mine of any wrongdoing while the Special Prosecutor was investigating the case.
Mr. Mahama described the president’s actions as unacceptable.
This was also a reaction to claims by President Akufo-Addo that Akonta Mining firm is not engaged in any form of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana while speaking at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Koforidua.
The Lands Minister clarified on Facebook that the president was not seeking to absolve Akonta Mining but was responding to a direct question.
“The President in response stated categorically that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana AS WE SPEAK
“The President was speaking about the state of affairs at the time he made the comment,… the comments by the President in no way relates to past or future activities of Akonta Mining, and cannot, by any shred of imagination, be deemed as exonerating the company from any past activities or interfering with any ongoing investigations.”
Samuel Abu Jinapor further added that his ministry is helping the police to investigate the allegations of illegal mining in the Tano Forest reserve levelled against Akonta Mining.
“officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are collaborating with these state institutions to conduct their investigations and take the necessary actions.”
He furthered that “Needless to point out that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding of anti-corruption institutions, the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which as I speak, is investigating this matter, the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), rapid investigations of allegations of corruption, and many more are testament to his remarkable record in the fight against corruption.”