A former Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in the United States believes the reports on galamsey by a former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Frimpong Boateng, is nothing but a whitewash.
According to Kofi Tonto, the 37-page report on illegal mining cannot be given the needed attention.
He describes the report as opinionated.
Speaking on Metro TV’s socio-political show, Good Morning Ghana on Friday, 28th April 2023, Mr. Tonto suggested that the report was meant to make the renowned physician feel well of himself.
“The so-called report which I don’t call a report, I call it Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s opinion document. The very things he said in the same document actually expose that Prof was rather interested in protecting his image. He actually said it in the report. Prof praises himself in the report. He says that I, Professor Frimpong Boateng, I have done a wonderful job. He says it in the report,” he said.
The NPP communicator also suggested that if the report had no ill intentions and was something to go by, it should have first attempted to seek validation of data from names mentioned instead of its frivolous intention it sought to project.
“So, you put yourself in a great position, bastardize your colleagues whom you never called to validate whether what they have been accused of doing is true or not. You bastardize them.”
He emphasized that the appalling report done to make an individual feel good about himself was nothing to attract the unnecessary attention trumpeting around.
However, the Deputy Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Osman Ayarigah, who sat as a panelist on the show vehemently rebuked the stance of Mr. Tonto.
He stated that some individuals and government officials are infuriated by the report because it implicates them.
Osman Ayarigah said President Akufo-Addo could not have been wrong when he appointed Dr. Frimpong Boateng and reposted such trust in him to man the environment.
“We all remember how when it was time for the swearing-in of the Professor [Frimpong-Boatneg], how the president gave us a good rendition and actually told us how he believed in the integrity and the good work and hard work of Prof. Frimpong Boateng and how he had worked with him for some time and he believed that he was going to do a perfect job so far as protecting the environment is concerned”
“But, today, because he is throwing light on the bad things happening in this government, communicators like my good brother here [referring to Kofi Tinto] are doing a 360 turn just to try as much as possible to dent the image of the good old professor,” he said.
The NDC Deputy Youth Organizer further brushed off the basis for Mr. Tonto’s argument that the report is unqualified to be called one.
According to him, Ghanaians should be made judges of such situations since they are the ones who feel the pinch at the long run.
He went on to urge political communicators to desist from throwing dust in the eyes of discerning Ghanaians in the course of defending their parties.
“I think sometimes when you sit on very serious programmes and you want to communicate to Ghanaians, in as much as you are supposed to communicate the party’s position, don’t try to sometimes insult the intelligence and sensibilities of people who are watching, just because they don’t have the direct access to react to what you say.”
By Leonora Enyonam Annoh | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
