The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources asserts that it would be unfair of him to evaluate his predecessor's efforts in the struggle against galamsey.
According to Samuel Abu Jinapor, "It would be extremely unfair to Professor Frimpong-Boateng, my predecessor in the administration of illegal small-scale mining, if I were to judge his work at this time. I believe that would be so unbecoming that I will not do it."
Mr. Jinapor, speaking to the press at the Ministry of Information's Meet the Press series on Tuesday, stated that the verdict is out on his predecessor's work, emphasizing that Ghanaians are the ones who will judge the work Prof. Frimpong-Boateng did from 2017 to 2021.
Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who formerly chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, authored a contentious report on the struggle against illegal mining in the country (galamsey), which prompted the Minister's remarks.
The report, a damning account of official collusion and interference in the committee's work, has been the subject of acrimonious debates between the author and the individuals he identifies as being virtually responsible for the failure of the national effort.
And according to the Minister of Lands, President Akufo-Addo was of the opinion that he would establish an inter-ministerial committee tasked with addressing illicit mining in the country.
"The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was responsible for illegal mining, but the President, in his wisdom, wanted all relevant ministries to come under one umbrella in order to combat illegal small scale mining."
He stated that the President appointed the then Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Frimpong-Boateng, to chair the committee, and that from 2017 to 2021, he had the opportunity and the mandate to deal with illegal small scale mining in Ghana, and this was specifically and exclusively to deal with illegal small scale mining.
"I am not the one to say whether they did a good job, succeeded, or failed," Mr. Jinapor explained.
According to him, there are aspects of the work that he may not employ for various reasons today.
"I believe there will come a time when a jury will be convened to judge my stewardship and efforts, and I pray to God that the verdict will be favorable," the minister said with a broad grin.
He stated that reports are not sacred, and with all due respect to "good old Professor Frimpong-Boateng," he believes the report must be interrogated and investigated, and those portions that can be adopted should be adopted.
"However, at the end of the day, what matters is that we remain focused and do the work of the country's good citizens."