Allegations Contained In Prof Boateng’s Report Are At Best Hearsay – Government

The Presidency has labelled the allegations levelled at some top government officials in the 36-page document on the fight against illegal mining written by former Minister for Environment, Prof Frimpong Boateng, as hearsay.

In a press statement released by the Office of the Presidency, they noted that even though Prof Boateng who also served as chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) made serious allegations against some government appointees, supporting or interfering with the fight against illegal mining, there has not been any evidence submitted to prove the allegations.

The government indicated that as a result, they are unable to properly investigate claims and allegations highlighted in the document.

“Indeed, the allegations contained in the document are at best hearsay. It is instructive that since Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s meeting with the Chief of Staff in March 2021, he has taken no step nor acted in furtherance of the matters contained in the document,” parts of the statement read.

The government added that the document is also not an official report stating “it can only be rightly referred to as a catalogue of personal grievances and claims made by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, intended to respond to some issues he faced as Chairperson of the IMCIM.”

They indicated that “the document did not have a transmittal or cover letter nor, indeed, an addressee, such as to suggest that it was submitted to the Chief of Staff for action.”

This comes after the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) in a 36-page document had accused top-ranking political actors in the government of thwarting the fight against galamsey and involving themselves in same.

In the said document, the renowned surgeon mentioned some individuals he claims frustrated his effort and the committee he chaired from addressing the canker.