Lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has described the conviction and 20-year jail sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as a dark moment for Ghana’s justice system.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Kasiebo Is Tasty following the High Court’s ruling in the Samreboi illegal mining case, Mr Appiah-Kubi said the judgment had left him deeply disappointed, insisting that the evidence presented during the trial did not justify the sentence imposed.
“Today is a sad day, and in my practice as a lawyer and a citizen of Ghana, I don’t think we’re in a good country,” he said.
He questioned the basis of the conviction, arguing that the ruling had shaken his confidence in the country’s judicial system.
“With the court ruling, I don’t think this country is a good place. And if there is something the judiciary has to do, we must bow down our heads in shame.”
While stressing that he does not support unlawful conduct, Mr Appiah-Kubi maintained that the evidence led before the court did not warrant a custodial sentence.
“I don’t condone wrongdoing, but for someone to be jailed based on the evidence I am privy to, it is state robbery.”
The lawyer argued that key allegations made by the prosecution were not sufficiently supported by evidence, particularly claims relating to the transfer of land.
“Some made it clear that there was a transfer of land without permission, and there is no evidence because the law is clear that you can only transfer an interest in land pursuant to an executive document, and a judge will sit and admit that there is a transfer in a document. I regret being a lawyer.”
According to him, the evidence presented during the trial rather showed that Chairman Wontumi was not directly involved in the alleged illegal mining activities.
“The person admitted in court that proceeds were not given to Wontumi, nor was he aware of the mining going on. He was only hired to go and cover mining pits for the planting of coconuts.”
Mr Appiah-Kubi further claimed that exhibits recovered during the investigations could not be linked to the NPP regional chairman.
“Weapons, money, and gold bars that were retrieved were all admitted not to be for Wontumi.”
He added that one of the prosecution’s witnesses admitted never having met Chairman Wontumi.
“One even admitted that he had never set eyes on Wontumi.”
The former Asante Akyem North MP also questioned the strength of the prosecution’s case, arguing that there was insufficient corroboration of the evidence presented before the court.
Warning of the broader implications of the judgment, Mr Appiah-Kubi said the outcome should concern every Ghanaian.
“If this is the evidence that attracted 20 years, then we’re not all safe; it can happen to anybody.”
Chairman Wontumi was on Monday sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by Criminal Court 4 of the Accra High Court after being found guilty in a case involving illegal mining activities on Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
This was after the court rejected aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation before proceeding with the ruling.
Throughout the trial, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising illegal mining on the concession, maintaining that the arrangement in question was solely for land reclamation and coconut plantation activities.
Also read:
