Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, has reaffirmed his affiliation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP). However, he expressed significant disillusionment with the party’s current state, citing issues that have made it less attractive to him.
During an interview on JoyNews’ “The Pulse,” Prof. Frimpong-Boateng shared his thoughts on the party’s present configuration. He said, “I subscribe to the ideas of the U.P. tradition, and at the same time, we must honor Nkrumah, who did so much for us. That’s how I see politics. We belong to certain traditions for certain reasons, but that doesn’t mean you have to demonize your opponents. The NPP in its present configuration is not attractive to me.”
His remarks stem from his experiences under the NPP government, particularly regarding the controversy surrounding his report on illegal mining, known locally as ‘galamsey.’ Prof. Frimpong-Boateng felt that the treatment he received from the party following the release of the report was unfair and indicative of deeper issues within the party’s governance.
The galamsey report, which detailed widespread illegal mining activities and implicated several high-profile individuals, led to significant fallout. Prof. Frimpong-Boateng faced criticism and alleged that some party members sought to undermine his efforts to combat illegal mining. He suggested this reflected a broader failure in the political operation to improve governance and address critical issues effectively.
Despite his criticism of the current state of the NPP, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng praised former President John Kufuor for his role in transitioning Ghana from a dictatorship to a rule of law and democracy. He acknowledged Kufuor’s adept handling of the transition from the PNDC (Provisional National Defence Council) to the NDC (National Democratic Congress), emphasizing the challenges of moving the nation towards democratic governance and the importance of this achievement.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s comments come at a time when the NPP is facing internal challenges and criticism from various quarters. His experience with the party’s handling of the galamsey report highlights issues of transparency and accountability that have troubled the party’s image.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng felt that his efforts to tackle illegal mining were not supported adequately by the party. Instead, he experienced resistance and attempts to undermine his work. This situation, he argues, points to a lack of commitment within the party to address the serious issue of illegal mining.
