Former New Edubiase Member of Parliament, George Oduro, has questioned the basis of the judgment that convicted Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in an illegal mining case.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Oduro said the judge’s decision was based on the claim that Wontumi gave out his land to another person to engage in illegal mining (galamsey).
However, he argued that the court proceedings showed that Wontumi had maintained that the land was allocated to him by the government for mining activities and that he did not authorise anyone to engage in illegal mining on the property.
According to Mr Oduro, Wontumi told the court that he discovered some illegal miners operating on the land before he had even commenced work and reported the matter to the Western Regional Security Council.
He said the security authorities subsequently sent the police to the site, leading to the arrest of some of the illegal miners.
“The person who later testified against Wontumi in court was among those arrested at the site for engaging in illegal mining,” Mr Oduro claimed.
He alleged that after the arrests, the prosecutor allowed the individuals to go free on the condition that they informed Wontumi that he had permitted them to engage in galamsey.
“But Wontumi rejected that claim and said he never gave anyone permission to do galamsey. He was the one who reported that people were illegally mining on his land,” he stated.
Mr Oduro further explained that Wontumi had allowed one of the individuals involved to use part of the land for coconut farming, not illegal mining.
He said Wontumi told the man to proceed with the farming arrangement because he did not have money to invest in the project at the time, with the understanding that proceeds from the coconut farm would later be shared.
According to him, Wontumi was unaware that the individual had allegedly resorted to illegal mining activities on the same land.
“If Wontumi gave you land to cultivate coconut and you decided to do galamsey instead, then after your arrest you turn around to blame him, is that fair?” Mr Oduro questioned.
He argued that the circumstances surrounding the case raised concerns about whether justice was properly served.
“That is why we believe the judgment was not entirely right because the facts before the court raised serious questions,” he added.
Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, were convicted on illegal mining-related charges and sentenced to a prison term.
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