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It has emerged that some “big men” of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) are involved in illegal mining, popularly called ‘galamsey’.

A viral video have popped up  on social media capturing Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng and NPP former Vice Chairman of the Agona West constituency, Horace Ekow Ewusi having a conversation about how to make capital out of illegal mining in the country.

The video comes days after some 500 excavators seized by Operation Vanguard team have been reported missing.

The two NPP gurus could seen and heard devising ways to engage party folks in acquiring some mining concessions to raise funds for the NPP.

“...Did you tell me that you are done forming the team? We talked about the framework...We all know that the party needs money...I told you that Chairman Wontumi has some concession, so go there and inspect the place...but after the meeting, you told me that you are done with everything and your guys have started working”, the Minister said in the video.

NPP National Treasurer, Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah in an interview with Peacefmonline.com has however debunked claims that the party has received “galamsey” money from any party member or supporter.

He stated emphatically that any allegation to that effect is baseless and untrue.

“To the best of my knowledge the national headquarters has never received any money from the said NPP member but if there is any donation, then it was done in their Regional or constituency level...Coming through the official sources of the party, I can boldly say that we have never received any donation from these party folks.”

He further stated that “Ekow Ewusi was supporting some constituencies within the Greater Accra and Central Regions based on his own agenda and not as an official funding through the party. We never received any donation from him on this cause”.

He asked Ekow Ewusi to leave the party’s name out of the matter.

"As a party member, you are free to contribute and support party activities. That is not the official funding because there is no party that will ask any individual to sell excavators or use galamsey to support the party; knowing the negative effect galamsey has had on our water bodies”, he stressed.