The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OPS) has declined a petition by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) to investigate alleged acts of thievery and corruption hindering the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
According to the Office, it cannot establish acts of corruption or corrupt related offences mandated by its binding law to investigate.
“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.
READ MORE: I can’t investigate missing excavator’s – Special Prosecutor
ASEPA, invoking Act 959 of the Special Prosecutor Act had alleged that 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.
Martin Amidu also added that 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.
READ MORE: FDA reacts to poisonous gizzard on the market
However, President Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians during the 2020 SONA that “No one involved (missing excavator’s scandal) will be shielded no matter their position.
According to the president, police will be given a free hand to investigate circumstances leading to some missing excavators in the fight against galamsey.
Find statement from the Office of the Special Prosecutor below
