The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng says his team is far advanced in the probe of illegal mining activities in the country.
His office insists that issues highlighted in a recently leaked report conducted by the former Environment Minister Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Manso are already under its radar.
This follows calls from the General Public for the office to take a keen interest in the report which exposes many infractions in the fight against the canker. It also names top government officials supposedly involved in the activity.
This included an allegation that a garden in President Akufo-Addo’s Kyebi home was also affected by illegal mining which took the Minister’s intervention to halt.
Most of the government officials named in the report have denied any wrongdoing.
In a May 2 communique, Mr Agyebeng welcomed the calls for an investigation and also assured that his “investigation is ongoing and far-reaching and it also covers the matters raised in the report published by the head of the dissolved IMCIM.”
He also added that action will be taken against persons found culpable in the activity.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame says the slow pace of criminal trials and grant of bail to illegal miners who return to sites is hampering the fight against ‘galamsey’.
He however says more than 700 persons are standing trial for various offences.
<p><img width="640" height="375" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rotimi-Akeredolu-1.jpg.webp" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Ondo Assembly Confirms Receipt Of Akeredolu's Medical Leave Notice" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rotimi-Akeredolu-1.jpg.webp 640w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rotimi-Akeredolu-1.jpg-300x176.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
<h2>Reports have indicated that allies of deceased governor of Ondo State, <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/topic/Rotimi-Akeredolu/">Rotimi Akeredolu,</a> might support former Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa in the November 16 gubernatorial election.</h2>
<p>According to sources, Akeredolu anointed Akinterinwa as his successor before he died.</p>
<p><strong>Naija News</strong> understands that more aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and other political parties are bracing up for the election.</p>
<p>According to Punch, some of the aspirants are incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Akinterinwa, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin; the former Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu (who is only the female among the aspirants); former Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Francis Faduyile; former aspirant of the APC, Olusola Oke; and Gbenga Edema, among others.</p>
<p>Party sources who spoke to the aforementioned publication say that Akinterinwa may be favoured to get the ticket of the party going by his popularity in the party across the 18 local government areas of the state, particularly, among those that would be delegates to vote at the primary (if indirect primary system is adopted).</p>
<p>Signifying his popularity, barely 24 hours after the dissolution of the Ondo State Executive Council by Governor Aiyedatiwa, it was gathered that Akinterinwa was received by huge crowd of party supporters at the Akure Airport on his arrival from Abuja, on Thursday, singing and chanting his name</p>
<p>Akinterinwa simply said, “<em>Your gesture is a testimonial that when you do well, people will appreciate you. This is a manifestation of better things to come.</em></p>
<p><em>“I am ready for the task ahead, I’m ready for the job”</em></p>
<p>The State Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, was indifferent about the matter as he said all the aspirants remained members of the party, and had the right to contest the governorship position, but he said there would be no anointed candidate.</p>
<p>However, it was gathered that some of the aspirants close to the late governor may not pick nomination and expression of interest forms to run as they might step down for Akinterinwa.</p>
<p>A source said, <em>“I can tell you authoritatively that Akinteriwa is the choice of majority of those working with the late governor, Akeredolu. He had anointed him before he died. Unfortunately, he was not strong enough to make it publicly before he died.</em></p>
<p><em>“The governor will run, but he will meet a formidable opposition in the state, especially among the late governor’s loyalists.”</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2024/01/27/party-sources-reveal-who-akeredolu-anointed-as-successor-before-dying/">Party Sources Reveal Who Akeredolu Anointed As Successor Before Dying</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>
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