Anas ‘galamsey’ exposé: Gov’t to use raw video files for further investigations

• Posted on February 28, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

The government has said it will act on the video documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw, which shows some officials of the Inter-ministerial Committee on illegal mining taking bribes and negotiating deals at a fee.

It, however, says it will only sanction the officials after it has investigated the unedited footage of the 20-minute piece properly.

The exposé appears to implicate some officials tasked to clamp down on illegal mining, as they were captured on tape allegedly receiving bribes to sidestep laid down procedures.

Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, told journalists a thorough investigation would be conducted, and no one found culpable will be shielded.

“Government has also taken notice of a documentary by Tiger Eye PI suggesting that it has uncovered acts that undermine fight against illegal small scale mining. Government  will have the said tapes properly investigated using the raw unedited footage and if any person is found to have solicited money or taken bribe to bend rules, the necessary actions will be taken.”

Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his TigerEye PI team have released an undercover investigative piece on Ghana’s mining sector.

In the latest exposé, Anas and his team exposed among other things the deep-rooted corruption hampering government’s fight against illegal mining in the country.

Anas, among other things, in the piece shamed some high profile personalities tasked to clamp down on illegal mining but failed to do so and sold their integrity for cash.

Charles Bissue indicted in Anas’ latest galamsey exposé

Presidential Staffer and Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining (IMCIM), Mr. Charles Cromwell Bissue has been indicted in the latest exposé by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

In the documentary, Mr. Bissue is captured accepting money ostensibly to facilitate clearance for a mining company without going through due process.

He is heard in the video instructing his subordinates to fast-track the processing of the company’s documents.

Several others connected to the work of the committee, otherwise known as the Presidential Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, are seen in the video playing “facilitating” roles at negotiated fees.

Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining

There are security operatives, informants and go-between who also offer to provide the company with information on the movements of a security task-force against illegal miners, and others who contribute to provide armed guards for the company’s concession.

All these are actions that are in sharp contrast with the objectives of the very institutions they work with or purport to work for.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining was commissioned in March 2017 by President Akufo-Addo to sanitize artisanal and small-scale mining in the country as well as develop a roadmap towards lifting an indefinite ban on small scale mining that lasted about 21 months.