After a jaw dropping undercover investigations, which revealed widespread corruption in Ghana’s football, ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has left the nation shocked with yet another investigative banger.

Galamsey Fraud Part 1, which has been analysed by CediDollar, showed how men appointed and paid by the state to protect the environment from illegal miners, subverted the roadmap meant to guide activities of small scale miners, and traded their conscience and national interest for money, leaving the environment at the mercy of the illegal miners.

In just 14 days, Anas and his men posing as galamsey miners paid their way through and got concessions to mine illegally at a time when a ban had been imposed on all forms of small scale mining, particularly the illegal mining.

From a ‘School Boy’ national security operative to a presidential staffer and secretary to the Inter Ministerial Committee on illegal mining, Charles Bissue, the men who were supposed to protect the environment took monies with a promise to lead the galamsey miners to concessions where they could start the business of destroying the environment.

A soldier, named only as ‘Bimpong’, police men including ‘Baffuor’ and ‘Annor’ with their commander ‘Kennedy Frimpong’ as well as national security officials all conspired to destroy the same environment they were employed to protect.

After receiving bundles of cash. the men offered to provide security for the galamsey miners and left Akufo-Addo’s dream of winning the war against illegal mining a mirage.

The investigation, which is in many parts, was started in over three years CediDollar has learnt. It is not clear yet when the remaining episodes will be released or who is involved.

Illegal mining, popularly called galamsey, has been pervasive across many mining areas in the country.

Several efforts by successive governments to have the canker nipped in the bud has been largely unsuccessful due to cases of bribery and corruption.

On assumption to office in 2017, the Nana Akufo-Addo led government made the fight against illegal mining a campaign which it committed resources and personnel to.

A ban was imposed on all forms of small scale mining with an inter ministerial committee set up to draw a road map aimed at sanitizing operations of all forms of mining in the country.

Barely two years after the committee was formed, many of its members have been compromised. Even in their office which is very close to the Flagstaff House, the seat of government, these men gleefully conducted the business of bribery and corruption.

It is not clear yet if the sector ministers or other influential government officials are complicit in the business of galamsey.

Written by Tetteh Djanmanor | CediDollar.com