A presidential staffer and Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr. Charles Cromwell Bissue, has been fingered as the foremost turncoat against efforts by President Akufo-Addo to weed out illegal mining in the country.
In the latest undercover work of ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI group exposing corruption, which airs on a number of TV stations and Graphic Online today, February 27, 2019, Bissue emerges as a facilitator for a company seeking to circumvent laid down processes to be given clearance for its mining operations.
He is captured in a secretly recorded video receiving wads of cash to facilitate the speedy ‘clearance’ of a mining company in order that it can begin mining as soon as possible, and is heard in the video instructing his subordinates over the phone to “fast track” the processing of the company’s documents.
Several others connected to the work of the IMCIM, otherwise known as the Presidential Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, are seen in the video playing “facilitating” roles at negotiated fees.
There are security operatives, informants and go-betweens who offer to provide the company with information on the movements of a security taskforce against illegal miners, and others who offer to provide armed guard for the company’s concession, actions that are in sharp contrast with the objectives of the very institutions they work with or purport to work for.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, comprising the ministries of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI); Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR); Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD); Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs; Regional Re-Organisation and Development; Water and Sanitation; Interior; Defence; and Information, was commissioned in March 2017 by President Akufo-Addo to sanitise artisanal and small-scale mining in the country as well as develop a roadmap towards lifting an indefinite ban on small scale mining that lasted about 21 months.
The committee is chaired by Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
In addition, President Akufo-Addo also set up a joint security taskforce (Operation Vanguard) that rummaged mining areas in the country to enforce the ban, seize or destroy mining equipment of those who flouted the ban, as well as arrested offenders for prosecution.
The ban and subsequent setting up of the committee, which were widely endorsed nationwide, followed widespread devastation of farmlands and river bodies by small scale and illegal mining activities.
It was suggested at the time that if nothing was done to reverse the devastation, Ghana was soon going to have to import potable water as the country’s rivers risked imminent ‘death’.
However, allegations have been rife in recent times of the suspected complicity of some government appointees in facilitating the clandestine operations of illegal mining firms much against the national effort to clean-up the space.
Those allegations have, as expected, been met with vehement rebuttals usually by those accused of complicity, or their associates.
But with the latest development as captured in Part One of Anas’ Galamsey Fraud, it appears government has more on its hands to do to achieve that national objective.
Source: Daily Graphic
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Jennifer Kennedy, if the government and the so called police will do their work, Anna may be even not having enough environment to do this work. The problem here is the government itself is corrupt, and we can not talk about police, for they are the house of the corruption. My friend would say "see police see bride". So, who will denounce corruption if we cease Annas? That he is disgracing Ghana is totally wrong. Let's take some develop countries like Spain and Italy where some politicians are being charged with corruptions. Some of the case was denounced by press and police investigated. Let this man do his work, at least he is identifying some people we already suspect.
I can’t believe the government is not doing anything about this ***barred word*** Anas investigation on important personalities in Ghana. He must be stopped to bring peace and also maintain the respect other countries have for our nation. If any leader in the country is corrupt, it is the government and the police duty to arrest the person and bring him or her to justice. Not someone who even force people to accept money all in the name showing appreciation and later post them. Am sick and tired of hearing this from Anas. He did nothing about his worker’s death but busy trying to disgrace our country Ghana. In fact , *He must be Stopped*.
Indeed ,in every town there is mensah there ooooooooooo
CONGRATS ANAS WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.
Kwaku Anas should give us a break we are tired of this entrapment. Shameful Anas
IN JUST TWO YEARS IN POWER THE CORRUPTION LEVELS AT THE PRESIDENCY AND SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF THE NPP UNDER NANA "KRAMAN" AKUFO ADDO IS MORE THAN THE TOTAL CORRUPTION EXPERIENCED BY GHANAIANS UNDER ALL THE GOVENMENTS PUT TOGETHER SINCE INDEPENDENCE. WHAT A GOVERNMENT. ABA! NANA ADDO AND HIS TEAM WILL KILL GHANAIANS AND FLY. BUT GOD BEING SO GREAT MY THUMP IS STILL HANGING ON MY HAND TO BE USED COME 7TH DECEMBER, 2020. I HAVE STARTED WEARING GLOVES TO PROTECT MY THUMP FOR ELECTION 2020 AGAINST DISTRUCTION EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TO USED IT HARD TO SURVIVE UNDER NANA ADDO'S GOVERNMENT. MY BROTHER, I TELL YOU THE PLAIN TRUTH THAT IT IS SURVIVAL OF THE FITEST UNDER THE SHABOLIC NANA ADDO'S GOVENMENT IN GHANA