By Frank Amponsah
The Chief and residents of Kyebi have descended heavily on the former Environment Minister, Prof Frimpong-Boateng over his spurious allegations that portions of President Akufo-Addo’s residence were used for ‘galamsey’ activities and hence destroyed by illegal miners.
It would be recalled that, Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s report on illegal mining states that a team had to be dispatched with excavators to restore the vegetation when he learned that the President’s Garden had been invaded by illegal miners.
But, when a team of journalists went to the Kyebi community to authenticate Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s claims, evidence gathered proved otherwise.
It however amazed the team to see no trace of galamsey activity around the President’s backyard as portrayed by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
The Chief, residents and caretakers of President Akufo-Addo’s private residence at Kyebi in the Eastern Region have dismissed Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s claims.
According to them, the mining allegation by Prof Frimpong-Boateng cannot be substantiated.
A caretaker, Gladys Agyekumwaa a.k.a Aunty Afia, who has been living in that residence for the past 32 years, expressed great disappointment in Prof. Frimpong-Boateng for making such claims indicating that there has never been a single day that the area was used for illegal mining.
She noted, amid sobs, that the plot to attack the integrity of the President would not succeed and that President Akufo-Addo is the best man for the nation and that the allegations being peddled round against him are just to destroy his image.
“…But they will not succeed. I am disappointed in Frimpong-Boateng. How can he make such false allegation?” she said.
Another caretakers, said has been on the job for seven years and there has never been any illegal mining activity at the compound.
“Not at all. Security is here 24/7 so how can security be here and then we allow people to come in that we are coming to do galamsey? What is the purpose of the security being in the house?” he quizzed.
He further questioned how the excavators can be moved into the premises due to the size of the gate.
Security agents stationed at the premises, according to Elton Brobbey, noted that since President Akufo-Addo’s inauguration in 2017, there have always been police, military, and immigration officials on the premises at all times, making it difficult for anyone to gain access without clearance.
As a result, he asserted that the claim that illegal mining took place in the garden is untrue.
When asked how they felt about the news of the President’s residence being turned into a galamsey site, the caretaker expressed surprise.
He described the report as “serious propaganda.”
“I wonder why people with high positions can bring themselves so low to that extent of telling lies…I don’t see the point because there is a house here with trees in it up to this point, and I’m not sure how we were able to dig the gold, remove the trees, and replace them. So, the trees speak for us, and I don’t believe we need to. The trees and the environment speak for themselves,” he added.
The Chief of Kyebi, Osabarima Marfo Kwabrane in an interview also expressed anger at Prof. Frimpong Boateng for making such claims.
He said, as Chief of the area, he can say on authority that there has never been a time when ‘galamsey’ activities were carried out in or around the President’s Residence and that all the allegations to that effect are false.
Also, in an interaction with some members of the party, they also maintained that the garden was not used for galamsey.
Other members also expressed their disappointment over the report while calling on Prof Frimpong-Boateng to review his report or back his claims with evidence.
They also want him to retract and apologise. This, according to them, is because they find it insulting that the President, who has promised to address the issue of illegal mining, would rather allow his compound to be used for same.
