Former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, under the NDC government, Joseph Yamin, has revealed he lost his job because of his stance against illegal mining in the region.
Joseph Yamin who is also a former Deputy Sports Minister and head of the anti-galamsey committee for the region said the anti-galamsey campaign that has been will not be won easily.
Speaking on a political discussion on a London-based radio station on Sunday, Mr Yamin said, he abandoned his hopes of enforcing the elimination of galamsey operation due to persecution from strong people within and outside the then NDC government, the armed forces, and chiefs.
He accused some senior officials and prominent people of allegedly engineering his “downfall” because of his firm anti-galamsey stance.
He said, his detractors felt uncomfortable with his anti-graft crusade and hence the reasons why he was sacked and subsequently replaced.
The officials, Yamin claimed, embarked on a mission to ensure he was sacked in their quest to continue profiting from galamsey activities that he observed was deep rooted in the authorities.
“The level of graft and other malpractices was so deep-rooted in the country and when I started to fight the vice in my capacity as chairman of the anti galamsey committee, some senior officials and members of the then opposition NPP, did not like the move and instead conspired to ensure my downfall,” he said.
Joseph Yamin added that, when he was at the fore-front to weed out galamsey operation within the Ashanti Region, he managed to deport 14 Chinese, 2 Indians and one American who were deeply involved in destroying Ghana water bodies for their selfish interest.
He said Nana Akufo-Addo and the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Peter Amewu, are very likely to fail in their bid to arrest illegal mining because of the enemies within the NPP administration.
He mentioned NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi as a kingpin in galamsey, suggesting that the NPP administration would have to do more.
In a strong rebuttal, a London-based communications member of the NPP, Peter Antwi Boasiako said, Joseph Yamin must bow his head in shame for admitting that officials of his NDC party were corrupt.
Peter Antwi Boasiako is confident the NPP administration will deliver on the promises to rid the country of illegal mining.
