Minister for lands and natural resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has issued a warning to political figures and other influential people in the nation to refrain from interfering with the work of the military task force sent in to stop illegal mining operations.

Mr Abu Jinapor, speaking to the media on Thursday, October 13, 2022, asserted that the military taskforce has eluded that powerful individuals in the country intervene on behalf of illegal miners, when accosted.

Describing the act as unethical, he stated that such interferences hinder the government’s fight against illegal mining and hence must cease.

He noted that, “ [no] politician, nobody is allowed to intervene. So I, as a minister, am not allowed to intervene, I am not allowed to call the military high command to say please don’t go to this concession. That discretion is not given to anybody. They are to use their own professional security expert judgment and they will be responsible and accountable to the minister for defence, the president and ultimately the Ghanaian people.”

He further added that “if things go wrong the minister for land and natural resources to a large extent will not be held accountable, it is the military high command which will be held accountable because nobody, not a politician, not a religious leader, not a chief is allowed to call the commanders to say do this or do that, that would be unwelcome, unethical, interference, I certainly will not do that and I want to believe that all actors in the body politics of our country will desist from that.”

Mr Jinapor’s comment comes on the back of recent allegations levelled against some political leaders for being involved in illegal mining activities.

The sub-chief of Dompim-Pepesa in Tarkwa in the Western Region, Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, accused the MP for Tarkwa- Nsuaem, Mireku Duker of being an active participant of illegal mining.

According to Nana Nyonwah Panyin IV, Mr Duker owns a galamsey concession in the area.

In the same vein, investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI released a video showing the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, allegedly taking bribes to sidestep the laid down procedures for the procurement of mining licences.

However, both political actors have denied every allegation mounted against them.

Nonetheless, Mr Jinapor stated that despite the numerous challenges confronting the fight

against galamsey, the government will go for the long haul in ending illegal mining in Ghana.

Mr Abdulai Jinapor said the government will not shield any “big man or woman” in the galamsey fight if found culpable.

Source: The Independent Ghana