The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour, has refuted allegations making rounds that has accused members of Operation Vanguard of resorting to bribe collecting from illegal miners.

Some online portals reported that according to the minister, the country's fight against illegal mining may be compromised because some youth are bribing members of the Operation Vanguard team in the region.

However, speaking to Kaakyire Ofori Ayim on Atinka AM Drive, Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfour explained that he has been misrepresented.

According to him, he was speaking at a budget dissemination forum in Anyinam in the Eastern Region when a resident asked why the government had not made budget allocation for the Operation Vanguard since illegal mining is still ongoing.

In answering the question, the minister explained that there were only 120 operation vanguard team members in the vicinity. He added that although there were doing their best, he had received reports that some people were trying to compromise the team.

“I then pleaded with the chiefs who are custodians of the land to ensure that persons who try to compromise the work of the operation vanguard are punished. This is all I said, why then do you misinterpret and accuse me?”he asked.