Former President John Dramani Mahama has responded to president Akufo-Addo over his recent comment on Akonta Mining Company.
President Akufo-Addo who was speaking at the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Koforidua assured Ghanaians that Akonta Mining Company is not engaged in illegal mining.
According to Mr. Mahama, Akufo-Addo’s comment vindicating Akonta Mining Company from any wrongdoing gives grounds to his nickname ‘the clearing agent’.
“That penchant by the president to absolve his appointees and other close associates of any wrongdoing as he has done with the ongoing investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining Company is a serious dent on the already deteriorating image of the Office of the President.
“As though proud of that dishonourable badge, ‘the clearing agent’, Nana Akufo-Addo has yet again justified the appropriateness of his nickname with the seeming presidential exoneration of Akonta Mining, a company owned by a member of his political party (NPP) and accused of illegal gold mining in the country’s forest reserves.”
He also added that the “development also erodes the years of hard work, which have earned Ghana international appeal in climate change and sustainable development discourse globally.”
“In addition, the President’s comment cannot be allowed to override or become a substitute for the statutory mandate granted the investigative bodies of Ghana by the Constitution.”
