Frimpong-Boateng Arrested, Grilled For 2 Hours

…But Granted GH₵2Million Bail

A former Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, was yesterday allegedly arrested and granted bail by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

He was arrested in connection with corruption and corruption-related offences during his tenure as the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), which was later dissolved.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng confirmed his arrest last night on Accra-based TV3’s News Night, monitored by The Anchor.

He revealed that he was initially invited by the OSP, but while sitting down waiting for the investigators, he was told he is under an arrest and, there after, grilled for almost two hours in the presence of his lawyers before he was finally granted bail.

The renowned heart surgeon noted that after the interrogation by the investigators, he called a friend who had accompanied him to the OSP but sitting at the lobby to secure bail for him.

According to 3newsreport, Professor Frimpong-Boateng was granted bail in the sum of GH₵2million after his arrest and interrogation.

Earlier in May, this year, the Office of the Special Prosecutor invited him over alleged corruption in the activities of the IMCIM, which he chaired.

Professor Frimpong-Boateng, in a press release issued on Thursday, May 4, said he had been invited as “a person necessary for investigations” into the allegations.

He was thus expected to assist the OSP to investigate the claims.

The cardiologist, in the release, assured of his willingness to assist the OSP exercise his mandate.

“Earlier today, I received a letter from the Office of the Special Prosecutor inviting me to assist the Office, ‘as a person necessary for the investigation” into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

“I have formally communicated my willingness to attend the invitation and to support the OSP in its work,” the statement said.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, had earlier said his team is far advanced in the probe of illegal mining activities in the country.

He insisted that issues highlighted in a leaked report conducted by the former Environment Minister, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng were already being investigated.

Mr.Agyebeng revealed that the investigations followed calls by the public for the office to take a keen interest in the report, which exposes many infractions in the fight against the canker.

Meanwhile, it appears the woes of the former minister are far from over, as the head of the Presidential Security detail, Captain (rtd) Edmund Kwadwo Koda, has also filed a defamation suit against him in court.

According to reports, the former soldier is seeking, among others, GH¢5million in damages.

This follows the citation of Capt. Koda in the IMCIM’s report authored. His controversial IMCIM report, became topical in March, causing many weeks of discussions, both social and tradition media, after many officials were implicated in it.

The cardio surgeon had alleged in his March 19, 2021 report that when the IMCIM task force impounded two excavators at a site near Anyinam and deposited them at the Anyinam Police Station, “frantic telephone calls were received from Captain (rtd) Koda of the Presidential security detail, who asked for the excavators to be released.”

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng further noted in the report that Captain Koda informed the task force that the owner of the concession, George Kwame Aboagye, who is the MP for Asene Akroso Manso, was his brother.

The MP has since denied this and dared the heart surgeon about the incident.

This is what has forced Capt. Koda to drag the former Minister of State to court.

He wants an apology and a retraction of the statements as contained in the report, which he says are injurious to his reputation.

The suit by the senior government official comes after President Akufo-Addo’s cousin, Gabby AsareOtchere-Darko, also sued the professor, demanding GH¢10million in damages.

Mr.Otchere-Darko sought a perpetual injunction, restraining the good old professor “whether by himself, his servants, agents or assigns from repeating similar or other defamatory words against the plaintiff.”

Source: Anchorghana.com