The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East Constituency in the Western Region, Ernest Frimpong, has clarified suggestions that he has incited illegal miners in the area to continue with their activity and also defend themselves against any attack from military personnel in the area.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the parliamentary candidate is seen at a forum with individuals believed to be illegal miners, allegedly advising them to resist military officers who claim they are there to patrol the area and attempt to forcefully remove them.

He emphasised that no military personnel have been authorised to manage the sites at this time, so miners should fight back if necessary.

Also present at this forum, was the Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who also heads the Security Council in the region.

Explaining the issue on Joy FM’s Midday News on Sunday, June 9, Mr Frimpong admitted to being the person in the video but refuted engaging with illegal miners, stating that he was speaking to miners in the community.

“I am saying that if the people in uniform can go to the length of engaging civilians in a business to torment miners who are legally working, then, they should be exposed because once you do that, you are deviating from what you are supposed to do,” he clarified.

He claimed that miners engaged in legal mining get attacked, and extorted with their machines destroyed to cause disaffection for the government. He claimed this is carried out by some NDC members with connections in the security service, hence his advise.

Asked whether the Regional Minister shares in his sentiment, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate said: “he does not agree with me on the fact that we should fight authorised security people who are doing their work, but he agrees with me on the fact that, we should fight illegal operatives where I deem it as corrupt and it should be stopped.”