Eco Conscious Citizens Demand Arrest of MP Frank Annoh Dompreh Over Alleged Galamsey Involvement

Accra, Ghana – Environmental activists and concerned citizens are intensifying their call for the arrest of Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, following his alleged confession of participating in illegal mining activities, popularly known as "galamsey." The practice has significantly damaged the country’s water bodies and forest reserves.

The eco-conscious group, which includes environmental advocates and local community members, has voiced their outrage over Annoh-Dompreh’s purported admission and is demanding immediate action from law enforcement.

During an emergency parliamentary session in Accra on Tuesday, September 3, Annoh-Dompreh, who also serves as the Majority Chief Whip, claimed that the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration was responsible for more severe pollution of water bodies compared to the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. He argued that an investigation would reveal the NDC's greater impact on water pollution during their time in office.

In a recent interview on Channel One TV's The Big Issue, Awula Serwaa, Coordinator for Eco-Conscious Citizens, criticized the response from duty bearers, particularly Annoh-Dompreh. She described his comments as an admission of guilt and stressed the need for his arrest.

"This is not a competition," Serwaa stated. "The house is on fire. We face an existential threat. We should be solving the problem, not debating who is more responsible. The political will is lacking, and we, as citizens with a constitutional duty to protect our environment, must act now before it’s too late."

FAQs

Q1: What are the allegations against Frank Annoh-Dompreh?
A1: Frank Annoh-Dompreh is accused of admitting involvement in illegal mining activities, or “galamsey,” which has contributed to the destruction of Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.

Q2: What was Annoh-Dompreh's response to the allegations?
A2: Annoh-Dompreh claimed during a parliamentary session that the previous NDC government caused more pollution to water bodies than the current NPP administration, suggesting that an investigation would substantiate this claim.

Q3: Who is calling for Annoh-Dompreh's arrest?
A3: The call for Annoh-Dompreh’s arrest comes from a group of environmental activists and concerned community members, led by Awula Serwaa, Coordinator for Eco-Conscious Citizens.

Q4: What are the concerns of the eco-conscious group?
A4: The eco-conscious group is concerned that the political leadership is not taking adequate action to address the galamsey menace. They view Annoh-Dompreh's statements as an admission of guilt and believe immediate action is necessary to prevent further environmental damage.

Q5: What is the broader impact of galamsey on Ghana?
A5: Galamsey has led to severe environmental degradation in Ghana, including the destruction of water bodies and forest reserves, contributing to ecological imbalances and threats to biodiversity.