The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, has refuted allegations that he and Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah have endorsed illegal mining and encouraged miners to resist military personnel.
The statement comes in response to a video circulating online, in which Mr Frimpong is captured urging miners to attack police officers and soldiers who extort money from them.
But Mr Frimpong in response claims he has been taken out of context from the two-hour engagement with artisanal small-scale miners.
In a statement dated Saturday, June 8, 2024, Mr Frimpong clarified that the Regional Minister emphasised the importance of responsible mining practices and warned against mining in prohibited areas, such as forest reserves and rivers.
He claims that he also urged miners to report any instances of extortion and harassment by unauthorized individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers.
He explained that he underscored the necessity of adhering to the laws governing small-scale mining in Ghana and assured miners of their protection under these laws when engaging in responsible practices.
Mr. Frimpong therefore denied encouraging illegal activities and called on the public to disregard the allegations, stating that they are “inaccurately represented” and “misrepresented.”
