Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has responded to the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, regarding the latter’s reply to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining’s (IMCIM) 2021 report on illegal mining.According to the report, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah was named as one of the government officials involved in the increasing problem of illegal mining in several forest areas across the country.It alleged that he Mr Oppong-Nkrumah had engaged the services of unnamed journalists to issue reports aimed at damaging Prof Frimpong-Boateng's reputation and discrediting his work as the chairman of the IMCIM.In response to the report, Oppong-Nkrumah denied the allegations, describing them as false. He expressed disappointment and offence at the accusations made against him.“I have had nothing but great admiration for Prof Boateng's public-spirited works and as an inspirational citizen. I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him,” he said.Frimpong-Boateng, after seeing this, decided to respond by saying that it was normal for people in high positions in government to deny allegations, and that he had good advice to offer Oppong-Nkrumah.“When I was part of the government, we were colleagues, and I related to you as such. Now I will advise you as my son, just as I do my children. After all, you are the same age as my fourth-born son. When I returned to Ghana from Germany to start the cardiothoracic project, you were just six years old as my fourth child. I will not lie to you or insult you or be harsh on you. My advice is always to remember that political power is both short-lived and effervescent.”Frimpong-Boateng also revealed current activity of galamsey close to Oppong Nkrumah's hometown and urged his former colleague to investigate and take appropriate action.“I don't want to believe that what the person said about your role is true. The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep.”