Obuasi-based anti-galamsey crusader, Mr. Kwasi Aboagye, has revealed how the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of the Bekwai Municipality in the Ashanti Region, Kwaku Kyei Baffour, flared up over the arrest of three Chinese nationals involved in illegal mining at Achiase, near Bekwai.
Mr. Aboagye told listeners of Angel FM in Kumasi that on Friday July 21, 2023 he undertook an operation at Achiase with policemen and National security personnel from the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) from Obuasi.
According to the anti galamsey campaigner, who is also the President of the Adansi Progressive Association (APA), his team arrested three Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians involved in illegal mining activities, which had polluted the Adankran River and degraded the environment.
He said, whilst at the mining sites, he was confronted by some elders from the Omanhene of Bekwai and later a Taskforce from the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, who pleaded for the release of the Chinese illegal miners and taken to the chief or the Municipal Assembly.
The anti-galamsey campaigner said he refused and told them that he did not believe there was a chief or an MCE at Bekwai, else they would not have looked on unconcerned as the river bodies and environment got degraded without restraint, hence his intervention following pleas by indigenes in the area.
Mr. Aboagye also narrated that, but for the timely arrival of the team from the Ashanti South Regional Police Command, he would have been subjected to beatings by members of the Taskforce, who claimed the MCE had ordered them to take over the Chinese nationals because the area was under his jurisdiction.
Mr. Aboagye accused the MCE of failure, since his investigations in the area revealed that illegal mining activities were taking place right under the MCE’s nose and not in the forest, as it has usually been the case.
But reacting to the allegations on Angel FM’s morning show, “Angel in the Morning”,
hosted by Kwame Tanko, on Wednesday,
MCE Kwaku Kyei Baffour flared up and went berserk on live radio.He stated that his Task force was on a normal routine check to drive the Chinese away when they coincidentally encountered Kwasi Aboagye.
The MCE described Aboagye as disrespectful and accused him of discrimination and extorting money from the illegal miners in his dealing with the galamseyers.
“Aboagye doesn’t respect, if he really respects, he would have consulted the police administration and my office before making those arrest. You don’t know your job. You wouldn’t have said this if you have brains. I’ll make the police commander invite you, Crazy guy”.
The MCE threatened to have him (Aboagye) arrested by the police. “I am m going to the Police Commander; I’ll let him be arrested. Why didn’t you seek permission from authorities before going on with such an activity? Is Aboagye credible? Foolish Aboagye”, the MCE ranted on air.
Kwasi Aboagy, in a heated response, also called the MCE “crazy” and insisted there is nothing he can do and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sack the MCE for condoning activities of illegal mining.
“You are also a crazy MCE. What have been your contributions? President Akufo-Addo must sack you”, Kwasi Aboagye fired back at the MCE.
