Thread by @JoyNewsOnTV

Prof. Frimpong Boateng Speaks:
I am on bail. On the 13th or 14th of May, I received a letter from the OSP asking me to appear before him in relation to matters of the IMCIM. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I was admitted to a bail of Ghs2 million. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I am not comfortable going over what transpired because it is still under investigation. I have not been banned from traveling. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

Members of the Small Scale Miners Association were blamed for all the ills in the field ie environmental pollution and all that. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We engaged with them and they told us they had challenges when they applied for their license so they go on the field to mine when this happens. They said they knew nothing about sustainable mining. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We took about 4000 of them to Tarkwa to learn about sustainable mining. Within that period, we got their licenses for the. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

The troubles started when big companies went on the field and did all that they wanted. Also when the Forestry Commission gave out licenses for these companies to enter the forests. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

47 forest reserves were entered and people were mining there. Prospecting licenses are not meant for mining. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We were able to get those who were polluting the water bodies away. We didn't burn their equipment on the water. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

When you burn their machines, they will come back but when you take away their floating platforms, that is the best thing. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I was asked by the Chief of Staff to write a report on our work so far and the way forward. The report was not for public consumption but the President's. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

When I heard I was under arrest, I asked if I was the cause of all the woes in this country? Or if arresting me will bring an end to all these things. I was surprised. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I didn't anticipate that this will happen. I spoke to some elders of the NPP and they said this was nothing and I should just show up. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We had serious challenges. I wrote to the CID to investigate some people because what they did were not good for Ghana. Nothing substantial happened to them. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

The committee bought some drones and the Ministry of Lands also bought some. We bought some for the activities of Operation Vanguard. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If I have done anything wrong, I stand to go before the courts. Those who are in power now should also know they will account some day. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If we do everything in the interest of Ghana, our lives will be better. If I were a thief, I would have been one of the richest people in Ghana. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

As we go along in life, others who have the power now will be held accountable for what they are doing. I feel I am being victimized. What have I done wrong? - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I built a whole hospital and trained a lot of people. As chairman of the PURC, I changed a lot of things. It would have been better if the things I introduced were implemented. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

When people get power and they think they can do whatever they like, it is very sad. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

You are sued by somebody then you receive the writ of summons and then two days letter the Special Prosecutor invites you. If you look at the sequence of things, you will be a fool to think they are not related. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

CHRAJ investigated me and my son for 4 years. The report showed we had done nothing wrong. Everybody knows that I never took an excavator. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

When we started the work, Operation Vanguard was in charge of mobilizing the excavators and then take them to a centralized location. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

Sometimes they are not able to move some of them so they kept them at the police stations or remove the control boards. There are times that when we left, the owners come with some influential people to take them away. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If the Minerals Commission was doing its work, this committee will not have been formed. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

To get the mining license, you need permission from the EPA, Water Resources and Minerals Commission. We put everything together so that they can mine sustainably. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We didn't issue a mining license or EPA license. It is because the Minerals Commission failed and wasn't working, that was why this commission was created. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

My report to the Chief of Staff is factual. The entire report. If you are doing something that important and some people who are influential are fighting you, you have to speak the truth. I could have been economical. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If they want to classify it as not being factual, then it is up to them. What you do with the information you receive is what is important. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If we ignore this report and do not act, there is no way we can win the fight against illegal mining. I hold the view that I have not defamed Gabby Otchere Darko. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

We were called by the caretaker of the President's house that someone was mining around that area. We went there and did what we were supposed to do. We didn't do this to slight anybody. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

This happened four years ago so if you visit there today, you won't see anything. The person who was engaged in this was arrested by the police. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I am very upset that I was doing something good for the President and Kyebi and now I am being victimized. I don't know how many people who could have done the job as I did. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

How many people have done for this country what I have done yet people are demonizing me. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I have a lot of respect for authority and the President knows that. My relationship with him is cordial and businesslike, nobody is his friend. I went in there to serve him and Ghana. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

These things will not distract me from what I want to do for Ghana. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I chaired the Committee for Vaccine production and we did a good job after I left IMCIM. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

Chairing the committee was very challenging and I didn't anticipate the things that I experienced; the involvement of party people and government appointees. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

The rivers are gone. A river has certain functions like drinking, habitat for fishes, etc. Now these rivers that we have cannot provide any of these functions. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

If things were better after my exit, then one can give credence to what they are saying. If you fold this report in the dustbin and you don't do anything about it then there is no way we can win the fight. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

This is not the only report we wrote. On many occasions, I made presentations at cabinet meetings and also met the Council of State. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I wrote this report based on the request of the Chief of Staff. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

When the issue of invasion of forests came up, there was a cabinet directive that there should be no mining in forest reserves but it still went on. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

My close family is tough and can handle it but for those outside it is hard for them. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I am not scared that I will be prosecuted. In this life, even Jesus Christ was convicted and killed so if bad people want to kill you, they know what to do to kill you. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I am still a member of the NPP and I have not resigned from it. I have no plan to resign but the state of the party is different from what I knew it to be. I am not happy with it because things are not going well. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I asked myself what I did wrong or if I shouldn't have written the letter? I am not bitter at all. I did many things as a Minister from my own initiatives. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

Even in the best of times when the economy was good, people were doing illegal mining and there are those whose wealth is based on mining so the fight can't be won anytime soon. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I am not here for a popularity or happiness contest. I was there to serve the President. The original manuscript of this report was about 120 pages. This is a watered version. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I was expecting that the issues raised would have been dealt with behind the scenes. I was never called for a discussion since I handed it over to the Chief of Staff two years ago. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I have no regrets. People Ghana is not worth dying for but it is precisely why you should. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

What did Jesus gain by coming to die for us? It was sacrificial, I think of it that I tried to make Ghana a better place. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

Personally, I have not seen us doing the things that will put us on the path of sustainable development. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress

I want somebody who will say he will not be part of greed and decadence. Until then, things will not be well. - Prof. Frimpong Boateng, Former Minister, MESTI #PMExpress