Land Minister Peter Amewu vindicates Okyenhene

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has clarified that Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II has in no investigation been cited for involvement in galamsey.

In a press statement signed by the Minister, Peter Amewu, noted that the recent report by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on galamsey “did not accuse Okyenhene or the Palace of being complicit in illegal mining activities”.

Media reports according to the Ministry, did not only suggest that the BNI’s report cited Okyenhene’s complicity in the menace, but also alleged that members of an anti-illegal mining task-force purportedly linked to the Okyenhene’s Palace, “allegedly extort money from illegal miners in the area.”

But the Ministry in a statement clarified that “checks by this Ministry indicate that, the last known environmental protection task-force from the Palace was disbanded over three years ago.”

The Ministry added, the said BNI report only “recorded a said perception against the Okyenhene’s Palace. It did not accuse the Okyenhene or the Palace of being complicit in illegal mining activities.”

“To the best of this Ministry ‘s knowledge, the Okyenhene’s Foundation has rather been at the forefront of the fight against illegal mining and the Ministry will continue to urge the Okyenhene, his Foundation and other traditional authorities to continue supporting this necessary fight to save the environment,” the Ministry added.