Former Environment Minister Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng has offered fatherly advice to Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah after he cited him among officialdom who frustrated his illegal mining fight.

The celebrated surgeon said it is normal for the Ofoase Ayirebi MP to deny any involvement in illegal mining as "very few people in your position will own up to their wrongdoing."

Mr Oppong Nkrumah has denied allegations that he orchestrated a plot to bring down Prof Kwabena Boateng in the fight against illegal mining aka galamsey.

In a statement released last Friday, the Information Minister described as false and fabricated a report by the physician to the presidency targeted court to public disaffection against his person.

“Over the years, I had nothing but great admiration for Prof Boateng’s public-spirited works and as an inspirational citizen. I feel gravely offended over the false claims he has made and the hurtful conclusions he has sought to exact about me precisely because of the great esteem in which I have held him.

“I trust that in the coming months and years, he will reflect deeply upon his own actions and comments which have led to his challenges. He should kindly leave me out of his personal fights. I am utterly disappointed, but I forgive him,” the statement said.

But the physician is fighting back in a press release on Monday, April 24, 2023, with lots of advice for the Information Minister.

Read his response below:

FRIMPONG-BOATENG’S RESPONSE TO OPPONG NKRUMAH 

Dear Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, 

I have read your response to what I wrote about you in the report I sent to the Chief of Staff a little over two years ago. You have denied what I wrote and that is normal. Very few people in your position will own up to their wrongdoings. 

I have good advice for you, though. When I was part of the government, we were colleagues and I related to you as such. Now I will advise you as my son, just as I do my children. After all, you are the same age as my 4th-born son. When I returned to Ghana from Germany to start the cardiothoracic project you were just six years old as my 4th child. I will not lie to you or insult you or be harsh on you. 

My advice is, always remember that political power is both short-lived and effervescent. In about 2 years’ time, you may no longer be in government and you may experience the real world as former high-profile political powerholders do. I will urge you to do your work diligently and avoid the coded and evil tactics Mr Paul Adom Okyere boastfully and unashamedly told the world on ‘Good Evening Ghana’ that you employ to deal with your real and perceived enemies. 

 Let me touch briefly on Illegal mining. Last week someone from your constituency sent me a video recording of illegal mining activities close to your hometown. I don’t want to believe that what the person said about your role is true. The important thing is that Chinese and their Ghanaian collaborators are engaged in illegal mining at your doorstep. I encourage you to investigate it and take appropriate action. The President of the Republic assures Ghanaians again and again that he is serious with the fight against Illegal mining. 

As you well know, illegal mining does not only refer to non-possession of a concession or mining permits but also the following: 

1. Mining close to water bodies 

2. Diversion of tailings into water bodies 

3. Mining in the water bodies 

4. Use of dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide 

5. Engagement of foreigners in small-scale mining 

6. Non-reclamation of mined-out areas. 

Have a blessed day. 

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng