A lawyer and leading member of the New Patriotic Party, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has sued former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng following allegations Prof. Frimpong-Boateng leveled against Gabby in the galamsey report.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng in the galamsey report accused Mr. Otchere-Darko of interfering in the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Professor Frimpong-Boateng argued that, at the time, there was a suspension on the issuance of licenses for operation in forest reserves, but Mr. Otchere-Darko jumped to the defence of a company that was said to be actively destroying the environment.
Mr. Otchere-Darko however indicated that the said accusations are false and a twist of fact.
He also added that he did no wrong in defending a company mentioned in the report.
“Their jobs were being frustrated, and I had before me all the documents they were required to have.
They were doing legitimate mining, and they were being frustrated.
That is why I placed the call to understand why that was happening to them.
I’m very disappointed in the former Minister deliberately twisting an enquiry by a lawyer of a client’s issue to be an interference,” he explained.
He has therefore filed a legal suit at the High Court, Mr. Otchere-Darko is demanding a sum of GH¢10,000,000 from the former minister in damages.
Mr. Otchere-Darko also demands an apology and retraction from Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
“An apology for and retraction of the words complained of and the particularized supra.
A perpetual injunction restraining the defendant whether by himself, his servants, agents or assigns from repeating similar or other defamatory words against the plaintiff,” Mr. Otchere-Darko demanded as part of his reliefs.
The said report has since raised series of conversations across the country with various groups calling for independent probe into the report and further actions taken against names mentioned as well.
