Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has denied allegations that he is involved in corrupt deals in the country’s fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
According to him, since returning to Ghana at the age of 39 years, he has sacrificed his entire life to working in the interest of the nation to the extent that he has done nothing for his himself.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday on the sidelines of the State of the Nation Address delivered to Parliament by President Nana Akufo-Addo, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, who is a cardiothoracic surgeon, lamented that “It saddens me that my reputation is being associated with wrongdoing when I have not even taken a bribe in my life.
“Look at me, I’ve not taken bribe before, I’ve not extorted money from anyone before, I’ve not done anything wrong before and it saddens my heart that people can associate me with illegality. This is wrong”, he insisted.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng recounted how he returned from Germany to Ghana to set up the National Cardiothoracic Centre and construct its building without monetary contribution from the government, reformed the Ghana Red Cross Society and founded the Ghana Heart Foundation, stating “Everything that I’ve done in this world is for Ghanaians. I’ve not done anything for myself.”
The minister, who has come under criticism for his handling of the seized excavators which went missing, indicated that he was not involved in any crime as is being alleged by his critics, saying “it is not true, every excavator that has been stolen will be found.
“Details of the whole excavator saga and other matters regarding the alleged corruption in the ‘galamsey’ fight, will come out soon once investigations are concluded by the Police, I decline to say more, journalists must stop “harassing” me with the issue because I will not resign, for what purpose?”
“The ‘galamsey’ fight by the government has been 70 per cent successful despite the allegations of corruption which indicated that I was not sleeping on the job for which reason excavators went missing overnight, the excavators did not disappear overnight. The facts will be made public soon after investigation by the Police, my son is not involved in illegal mining, he is not involved in anything and the world will get to know very soon”, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng assured. -3news.com.
