The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor has reacted to allegations by Assin Central Member of Parliament, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong claiming to know some government officials involved in illegal mining.
According to Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, he is ready to liaise with Mr. Kennedy Agyapong to fish out the culprits.
The minister made the remark during a briefing at the meet the press series organized by the Ministry for information.
The Assin Central Member of Parliament, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has been in the news recently after he made a controversial statement that, there are illegal mining companies in the country owned by known leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He also added that some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress are also involved. He adds that there are about twenty-four of such companies and he will soon expose them.
His comment has since attracted a lot of reactions from the public who have dared him to go ahead and publish the names.
Responding to the allegations, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor indicated that Kennedy Agyapong is a senior colleague and he will be happy to liaise with him in finding out the perpetrators.
He says if the claims by Kennedy Agyapong prove to be true, the culprits will be punished according to the laws of the country.
“Kennedy Agyapong is a senior colleague of mine whom I usually engage with. We speak quite often so I will speak to him. If he knows of any government official who is involved, I will be happy to find out from Kennedy Agyapong and we will deal with it according to the law”. Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor indicated.
The minister has promised to fight illegal miners found on river bodies and forest reserves. A task force involving the military has been deployed to ensure every excavator found along a river body is burnt.
So far, the task force has set most of the excavators ablaze. The situation has led to some small-scale miners calling on the government to stop the burning of the excavators.
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