Amewu’s office bugged - National Security investigates
The office of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, has been bugged, but he says the planting of secret cameras and recorders in his office will not deter him from fighting wrongdoing in his sector, especially illegal mining.
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He said the National Security had taken over investigations, adding, “I am being extremely careful, going forward.”
Security officials were said to have found the audio-visual recording device in Mr Amewu’s office after they had swept the room.
The device is said to have been planted behind Ghana’s Coat of Arms hanging in the office
Commenting on the matter, Mr Amewu said much as he was disappointed to have discovered that his office had been bugged with an audio-visual gadget, he was not deterred.
“This won’t deter me in any way because we have been assigned by the President to save the country’s livelihood and that is exactly what we are going to do,” he noted in an interview with journalists in Accra yesterday.
He urged all those concerned about the environment and the well-being of the nation to be extremely careful because “we are fighting against multinationals”.
“We are fighting against powerful people and if you want to take their livelihood away from them, you should expect the consequences,” he noted.
“I never regret my fight. The President has assigned me and a team of people and, in accordance with his directive, we will complete the assignment for the good people of Ghana,” Mr Amewu assured.
Investigations
“I understand it is a very sophisticated device and I understand the Minister of National Security has directed investigations into the matter and so investigations are ongoing.
“It is a detective security mechanism to either transmit and/or relay information on activities out of my office,” Mr Amewu explained.
Asked if he had any idea how long the device had been planted, he said he had no idea.
He, however, expressed the hope that the security agencies currently investigating the matter would get to the bottom of the issue.
Asked how he felt about the whole situation, he said: “I feel disappointed, but it won’t stop me from what I intend to do. It is surprising and I wonder why people would go this far. This a warning to all Ghanaians that we need to be careful.”
Galamsey fight is not my fight
Mr Amewu said it was important for all to note that “this galamsey fight is not my fight. It is a presidential directive and we must collectively work for the success of our dear country”.
He said the media and governmental agencies involved in the fight against galamsey must not relent in their efforts.
The fight
Mr Amewu has, since the beginning of this year, led a team to mount a spirited fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The Media Coalition Against Galamsey and other civil society organisations have all joined forces to protect river bodies, forests and the environment in general.
There has been stiff opposition from some Ghanaians, who argue that galamsey is their source of livelihood.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, together with the Minerals Commission, is rolling out a comprehensive programme to provide other sources of employment for the youth who will be adversely affected should illegal mining be stopped.
Government support
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is on record to have renewed his commitment to fight the galamsey menace and has even called the bluff of illegal miners who are threatening to vote his government out of power if the fight against galamsey persists.
Mr Amewu and his team had been touring some illegal mining sites across the country to ensure that his ultimatum to illegal miners to down their tools was complied with.
More than 500 excavators and 1,300 dredging machines have since been moved from illegal mining sites to dry ground, in compliance with the minister’s directive.
Security personnel are being deployed to illegal mining sites across the country as part of moves to end the galamsey menace.