A petition to probe alleged acts of thievery and corruption hindering the fight against illegal mining in Ghana has been declined by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) on Tuesday, February 18, filed a petition to the OSP following reports of missing illegal mining equipment including excavators which were seized by a special task force commissioned to fight the illegal mining menace.
But in a letter addressed to ASEPA, the OSP, Martin Amidu explained that it cannot establish any wrongdoing.
“A review of your letter of complaint, however, has led this office to the conclusion that the facts and conjectures upon which you underpin your complaints do not raise any issues of corruption and corruption-related offences as narrowly defined under section 79 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) to warrant an investigation by this office,” a statement signed by Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu read.
ASEPA, invoking Act 959 of the Special Prosecutor Act had alleged that an audio circulating on social media purported to be a conversation between Environment Minister, Professor Frimpong Boateng and the Central Regional Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Ekow Ewusi, is enough evidence of alleged corrupt acts thwarting the fight against galamsey.
The petition was submitted days after members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) held a presser at the banks of the Pra River to accuse President Akufo-Addo and his appointees of causing more harm to the mining sector since taking over power.
Agreeing to these allegations, ASEPA argued that an investigation by the OSP will not only help unravel those responsible for the various corrupt acts hindering the fight but will also make it possible for them to face the full rigours of the law.
But Martin Amidu says the criminal division of the Ghana Police Service is better mandated to handle the issue.
According to him, since the Service has also commenced investigations into a similar matter, it will not be in the interest of the country to spend money on a new process elsewhere.
Attached is the letter addressed to ASEPA:
By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH
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