An audiovisual recording device believed to have been secretly installed in the office of the Lands and Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu has been discovered.

It is not clear who might have planted the device and how long it has been there, but it was discovered during a screening exercise in the office by National Security operatives.

The device was planted in the huge Coat of Arms plaque hanging in the far left corner of the Minister’s office, Accra-based Joy FM reports.

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The device included a camera, a storage unit and another device suspected to be a transmitter.

It was neatly housed in a black metal box and used batteries.

The Minister, who has waged war against illegal mining in the country, said that he is surprised but does not suspect anyone.

“I have no suspicions but I think that somebody is trying to be very mischievous and attempts to derive or gain personal interest. I don’t know what might trigger people to do that,” he told Accra-based Joy FM.

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He said that he is not worried about any information that might have gone out into the public domain as the office is a public one and any information is supposed to be for public consumption.

Mr Amewu added that National Security is still investigating as the device could have been planted in the office before he took over as Minister.