Popular Ghanian broadcaster, Captain Smart, has dismissed allegations that a viral video of him incited illegal miners to invade AngloGold Ashanti concession. In a firm response, he clarified that the video in question dates back to June 2023 and was taken out of context.
Addressing the accusations on his platform, Captain Smart stated, “This is a 2023 video”. Captain Smart accused the critics of using old footage to silence him and divert attention from pressing national issues. Shame on you NPP guys.
He said even the shirt he wore in the video shows it is a 2023 video because he no longer wears that shirt again.
“People can testify that I stopped wearing that shirt in the video and the towel on my neck somewhere in 2023. The guys have been going there to work since 2023, so if it is the video that caused the clash, why weren’t they chased in 2023? Today you pulled back the video as the cause of the incident. Shame on you” he stated.
This video you’re bringing won’t solve the problem. It won’t silence us. This video won’t silence us. If you want something to nail me down, unless you visit my grandparents’ grave” he remarked.
Explaining why he made the video, Captain Smart expressed concern about the environmental and health impacts of mining in Obuasi, alleging that foreign companies operating in Ghana has failed to prioritise the well-being of the residents.
Captain Smart’s rebuttal comes amid heightened scrutiny of illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey, which continues to pose significant risk on the environment.
