Mireku Duker Denies Involvement In Galamsey, Proceeds To Sue Chief
A deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency, George Mireku Duker has dismissed allegations of his involvement in the illegal mining at Dompim-Pepesa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region.
This comes after allegations by the Chief of the area that the MP, the Regional Minister and the MCE for the area are behind illegal mining, otherwise known as “galamsey” in his community.
In a press statement dated October 11, Mireku Duker dismissed the allegation as “false, needless, baseless, vain and unfortunate”.
He pointed out that the accusation is coming from a “rival claimant’ of the Dompim-Pepesa Divisional stool.
He held that he had no hand in any illegal mining activity in any part of the country.
“I must indicate that the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) is a herculean task that cannot be won just by pointing fingers at leaders, government appointees among others at various levels in mining districts of tarnishing their image for political expediency and self parochial interest without any fact”, a part of the statement said.
He also disclosed he has ordered his lawyers to sue Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV.
In an interview, Dompim-Pepesa Chief, Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV alleged that three government appointees are behind illegal mining in his community.
He is quoted to have said, “I know not of any company but I know of the very people who are behind the operations of ‘galamsey’ in my area. First and foremost the Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah is involved. The MP for the area, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Honorable George Mireku-Duker is also involved and the MCE, Benjamin Kessie is also involved. I have told you I am not going to disclose my arsenals to you.”
The traditional leader challenged them to file a lawsuit against him if they wanted.
“They said they were going to sue, so let them sue. I’ll let out my arsenals at the right time,” he alleged.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
