The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has denied allegations linking him to illegal mining activities (galamsey) in his constituency, describing the claims as a deliberate attempt to distract from his efforts to combat the menace.
In a press statement, the MP addressed a recent demonstration staged against him by a group of residents, which was also commented on by the Krontihene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyere II.
Mr. Acquah stated that his actions were aimed at exposing illegal mining activities allegedly facilitated by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Birim Central, Solomon Brako Kusi.
According to him, his commitment to protecting the environment and fighting galamsey had been misconstrued as sabotage against the MCE.
“As the representative of the people of Akyem Oda, I remain committed to fighting against illegal mining in our constituency. When I exposed the MCE for facilitating galamsey activities, I was simply doing my job. Instead of being commended for standing up for what is right, I was rather accused of sabotaging the MCE,” he stated.
He revealed plans to make public his findings on the matter and demand accountability from all stakeholders involved in what he termed the “galamsey receipt saga.”
He questioned the legality of allowing illegal miners to pay fines and continue operations, which he said contributed to environmental degradation.
Mr. Acquah appealed to residents, traditional leaders, and all well-meaning citizens of Akyem Oda to join him in the fight against illegal mining, emphasizing the need for unity and integrity in tackling the issue.
He further called on the public to focus on addressing the core problem of illegal mining rather than diverting attention through baseless allegations and political interference.
