The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has stressed its determination to delve into the alleged illegal gold mining (galamsey) activities involving the suspended District Chief Executive of the Bosome Freho in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Yaw Danso was suspended by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in October 2022 over an alleged involvement in illegal gold mining, popularly called “galamsey”, to allow investigation into the claims.
There had been audio in circulation implicating him in illegal mining activities.
According to the sector Minister, Mr Dan Botwe, “we are in touch with the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to delve into the issue and soon the outcome will be known”.
The Minister was responding to a question on the matter at a press soiree yesterday in Kumasi with some senior editors and morning show hosts.
Present at the event were senior officials from the Ministry, directors of the Ministry and its Departments and other heads of institutions.
The press briefing formed part of the Minister’s visit to the area to hold discussions with the officials of the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) and Department of Planning (DOP) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The discussions bothered on rural and human resource development in spatial planning and also exploring future potential areas for collaboration towards promoting effective implementation of the Ministry’s mandate.
The Minister, also a Member of Parliament for the Okere Constituency in the Eastern Region, mentioned that Mr Danso had denied it was his voice that was being circulated, and as such the forensic unit of the CID was handling the matter.
“We are waiting to hear from the Police,” he quipped.
The suspended DCE had been the subject of controversy after some of his assembly members tried to pass a vote of no confidence against him.
The assembly members accused him of causing divisions within their ranks and withholding resources meant for their work.
Some members of his Assembly had already called on President Akufo-Addo to take a serious look into the allegations.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
