Frimpong Boateng Galamsey Report: Sammy Gyamfi Files RTI Request

The National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Attorney General and Ministry for Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The member of the opposition party is seeking to satisfy his curiosity after the country’s Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame discharged persons alleged to have interfered in the work of former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Frimpong-Boateng.

Sammy is demanding some information concerning Heritage Imperial Company Limited, a company whose name popped up in the report.

“This request has become imperative in light of a legal opinion from the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice to the Ghana Police Service dated 12th September 2023. The said legal opinion suggests that no evidence has been found by the State in support of allegations by the former Minister of Environment and former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee Against Illegal Mining, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, that Heritage Imperial Company Limited has been mining and/or operating illegally in the Apamprama forest reserve.”

According to him, the requested information will enable him to assist the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney-General in conducting the requisite investigations for justice to be served.

Ministry of Lands
With the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the politician is asking for copies of the prospecting license granted to the Company to mine in the Apamprama Forest reserve in 2018 and the revocation letter in 2019.

It also asked for any other relevant report or document that relates to the activities of the Company in the Apamprama forest reserve in the Ashanti Region.

Attorney
For the Attorney General’s office, Sammy requested a copy of a letter in 2019 referring to a writ of summons addressed to the Chairman of the IMCIM and a subsequent reply from the Chairman.

EPA
His request to the EPA sought a copy of a letter signed by the Chief Programme Officer/Head of Mining, granting the company a Forest Entry Permit and highlighting the permit will expire in December 2018. The said letter was addressed to the Managing Director of Heritage Imperial Company Limited, he said.

Another letter Sammy requested relates to a confrontation of the Company on December 17, 2018, by the Ag. Executive Director of the EPA about its “illegal” operation in the Apamprama Forest Reserve.

He further referred to a letter dated February 22, 2019, in which the Chief Programme Officer/Head of Mining at the EPA referred to a meeting where the Company admitted they were rather engaged in reclamation work and had moved equipment/machinery to the site while they had not made an application for the necessary Environmental Permit.

Additionally, he wants any other relevant report or document that relates to the activities of Heritage Imperial Company Limited in the forest reserve.

Heritage Imperial Company Limited
According to Prof Frimpong Boateng, Gabby Otchere Darko-a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)- allegedly claimed to be the lawyer of Heritage Imperial Company Limited and interfered in his work in an attempt to fight off the Company for illegal mining.

“We were ready to dislodge Heritage Imperial from Krobo Forest when Mr Gabby Asare Darko called to inform me that he was a lawyer of Heritage Imperial Company Limited that was destroying the Krobo and Apraprama Forest Reserves and in the process had also polluted and diverted the course of the River offin…”

Gabby has, however, denied the allegations and has sued the former Chair.

A-G’s Advice
After reviewing the docket submitted by the Police on the allegations contained in the 36-page report written by Prof Frimpong Boateng, the A-G issued advice on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

The advice signed by a Chief State Attorney, Evelyn Keelson, said it cannot recommend prosecution of any of the persons named in the report for lack of evidence.

“The Attorney-General indicates that a careful study of the Report, the various documents and pen drives submitted to the Police did not disclose any evidence in support of the allegations made against the persons cited in the Report, with the exception of Seth Mantey, John Ofori Atta and Ekow Ewusi, in respect of whom the A-G instructs the Police to conclude their investigations and present a report to him.”