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 in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, 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.
To underscore the government’s position, Mr Kwakye Ofosu cited the ongoing prosecution of a prominent political figure, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, who previously served as Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“As I speak to you, a prominent figure in Ghanaian society… is standing trial over allegations of his involvement in galamsey,” he noted.
He added that the President has made it clear that justice will take its course once wrongdoing is established.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has called for the immediate removal of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie Central following the documentary’s findings.
The JoyNews Hotline investigation, titled “A Tax for Galamsey: The extortion racket fuelling illegal mining,” reveals that illegal mining activities in the district are allegedly not only being tolerated but systematically taxed, receipted, and protected by government appointees.
According to the documentary, undercover reporting, secret recordings, documentary evidence, and on-the-ground infiltration point to an alleged extortion network involving the District Assembly and a taskforce operating under the authority of the District Chief Executive.
Source: Myjoyonline
