John Jinapor, the ranking member of Parliament's Mines and Energy Committee, has made it clear that he won't allow former Environment Minister Prof Frimpong Boateng's allegations of top officials engaging in illegal mining to be dismissed. He stated that the Minority in Parliament will pursue this issue further when Parliament resumes because the claims made by the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining are very serious.
Jinapor emphasized that the country cannot continue to allow this level of impunity and gross disregard for national laws. He stated in an interview on Joy FM's Top Story that it is unfortunate, and any attempt to sweep it under the carpet will not work. He added that this issue tells us why we are failing as a country to build limits.
Prof Frimpong Boateng has submitted the names of people in government who frustrated his effort to fight illegal mining in the 2021 report to the President, which has just been leaked. He has accused senior government officials of active involvement in illegal mining, with the issue going as high as the government seat, Jubilee House.
Jinapor was not surprised by the details of the report and explained that he knew from information that the President's announcement to put his presidency on the line was not made in good faith. He expressed his dismay over the extent of rot and the level of complicity of the presidency. The reports indicate that the commitment to fight illegal mining is not there, and this government is not showing the capacity, desire, willingness, and seriousness to tackle it.
Jinapor questioned what the government would tell the ordinary Ghanaian when top government officials get involved in illegal mining. Therefore, sweeping Prof Boateng's allegation under the carpet will not work, and the Minority in Parliament will ensure that the issue is pursued to the end.