Former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, says President Akufo-Addo was fully aware of the challenges the committee faced in addressing the menace of galamsey but did very little to solve it.

According to him, his outfit regularly submitted reports to the President to keep him on top of the issue. However, in most instances, the President merely called those involved and warned them.

Speaking on JoyNews’ the Pulse, he said “When the Forestry Commission was giving out forest reserves for mining purposes, I wrote a report with letters and all the details and the President called Sir John, he was alive then but I don’t want to go into the details of what happened. We had problems and at every step, they were informed about what was happening.”

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng is currently in court accused of defaming some people he mentioned in his report including the cousin of the President, Gabby Asare Okyere Darko. He is alleged to have accused Mr. Okyere Darko of helping Imperial Mining Company undertake illegal mining in his report to the President.

• Read also: Illegal mining: I didn’t fail as IMCIM Chairman – Frimpong-Boateng

Prof Boateng insists he did not fail as head of the committee. Additionally, he criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama's plan to allocate $500 million to combat illegal mining, describing it as woefully inadequate.

• Read also: Next NDC government to spend $500m on fight against illegal mining

Earlier, the Special Aide to NDC flagbearer, John Mahama confirmed that if the party wins the upcoming election, the party will invest $500 million to combat the illegal mining menace, known locally as ‘galamsey’.

Joyce Bawa-Mogtari told Evans Mensah on PM Express that this issue is of great concern, and additional state resources will be invested to address it.

The former Deputy Transport Minister said, “John Mahama actually said in his speech at the University of Mines and Energy, for example, that at least $500 million will be deployed first into research to get data and of course using modern technology.”

“Everybody's interested in this conversation…there is something that modern technology does for us. It makes things much easier and presents a better photograph and actually satisfies something that humans cannot do,” she explained on Monday June 25.