The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Suhum, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, was accused by some of his constituents of engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) on live TV.
During a political debate organized by TV3 for the various aspirants in the Suhum constituency, a constituent presented Protozoa, who was fingered in the galamsey report by former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, with a gallon of polluted water to quench his thirst.
A video of the incident showed the constituents screaming “galamsey, galamsey, galamsey” as the debate was ongoing.
One of them brought the gallon of polluted water and placed it in front of the NPP parliamentary candidate, as can be seen in the video.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Suhum, Margaret Darko Darkwa, who was sitting next to the parliamentary candidate, was infuriated by the incident.
She picked up the gallon of galamsey water and threw it at the constituents, all the while they were chanting “galamsey”.
Protozoa, in the course of the debate, refuted Prof Frimpong-Boateng’s claim that he was involved in galamsey.
He said that the former minister has not provided a shred of evidence to back the allegation against him.
“I thought that a professor of science would know much better. The name of the game is evidence, and he who alleges must prove. These allegations are only a figment of some desperate people’s imaginations, and I will not be distracted,” he said.
Protozoa, who is the director of political affairs at the Office of the Chief of Staff, said that he was a climate activist and would not engage in activities that harm the environment.
“I am a climate change activist. There is no way I would do anything to undermine His Excellency the President, whom I serve at the presidency,” he added.
He also refuted assertions that there were galamsey activities ongoing in the Suhum Constituency.
Watch a video of the incident below:
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