Frank Asiedu Bekoe, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Suhum, popularly known as Protozoa, was accused of engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) by some constituents during a live TV debate.
The debate, organized by TV3 for parliamentary aspirants in the Suhum constituency, featured a spectacular moment when a constituent, referencing a galamsey report by former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, handed the parliamentary candidate a gallon of polluted water, symbolizing the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.
In the video residents were seen chanting “galamsey” repeatedly as the debate continued. One constituent placed the gallon in front of Protozoa, highlighting the accusations against him.
Suhum MCE, Margaret Darko Darkwa, seated beside Protozoa, reacted angrily, picking up the gallon and throwing it back at the constituents as they continued their chants.
During the debate, Protozoa denied the allegations, challenging Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s claims. He debated that no evidence had been presented to support the accusation.
“I thought that a professor of science would know better. The name of the game is evidence, and he who alleges must prove. These allegations are a figment of some desperate people’s imaginations, and I will not be distracted,” he said.
Frank Asiedu Bekoe, who also serves as the Director of Political Affairs at the Office of the Chief of Staff, emphasized his stance as a climate change activist and further denied that galamsey was occurring in the Suhum constituency.
