NDC members more in illegal mining – Prof Frimpong Boateng

Professor Frimpong Boateng has in his report revealed that there are more NDC members involved in illegal mining than NPP members in the Western Region. The former minister revealed that the NDC due to its long years in office has enabled its members to acquire large mining concessions.

According to him, the resources from the mining activities enabled the NDC members to sponsor their party during elections. He added that they also sponsor independent candidates in constituencies which are noted as NPP strongholds in the region.

Describing the situation in a section of the report titled, “Established miners who are members or sympathisers of the NDC,” the renowned surgeon revealed even a former Deputy Minister under the NDC was actively mining in forests in the region.

“It is well known in the small scale mining circles that NDC members and sympathisers were well established in small scale mining, especially in the Western Region. They acquired several concessions in mineral-rich areas during the long periods of NDC reign. They had the money and other resources to not only sponsor NDC candidates but also support independent candidates in the supposedly strongholds of the NPP. This is what happened in Evalue Dwira and Tarkwa constituencies.

“In the Wassa East District, a former NDC Deputy Minister who is also MP for the Wassa East constituency has been actively mining in the Subri forest for years.

“When NPP party officials complained and the army component of Operation Vanguard was withdrawn almost two years to the 2020 elections, the NDC was given an advantage in terms of access to resources from mining. This is because there are far more NDC people engaged in illegal mining than NPP members in the region,” the report stated.