The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its handling of the criminal prosecution of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
He described the conviction and the 20-jail term as evidence that the justice delivery system is being used as a political weapon against opponents of the governing party.
The outspoken lawmaker made the remarks shortly after the Accra High Court sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently, in the high-profile Akonta Mining case.
The court also imposed 10,000 penalty units on each count against Wontumi, while Akonta Mining Limited, which was convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
Reacting to the verdict in a social media post, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah questioned what he described as inconsistencies in the administration of justice, arguing that individuals associated with the governing NDC had received different treatment in criminal prosecutions despite facing serious legal challenges.
According to him, there are several cases involving persons linked to the NDC in which courts had ruled that the accused had a case to answer after dismissing submissions of no case, yet those prosecutions were later abandoned by state prosecutors. He argued that such developments raise concerns about unequal application of the law.
The Ofoase-Ayirebi legislator further contended that Chairman Wontumi was not convicted for engaging in illegal mining itself, but over allegations relating to the assignment of mining rights connected to a concession owned by his company.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah pointedout that Chairman Wontumi has consistently maintained that the concession had been handed over to another party solely for reclamation purposes and not for mining operations.
He argued that while the court imposed a lengthy custodial sentence on Wontumi, the individual alleged to have carried out the actual mining activities was not subjected to similar punishment.
In his view, the outcome raises fundamental questions about fairness and proportionality in the justice system.
“This is not law or justice. It is a weaponising of the justice delivery system,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated, adding that the circumstances surrounding the prosecution explain why the New Patriotic Party considers Chairman Wontumi to be a political prisoner.
The former Information Minister went further to declare that “the justice system has been turned upside down,” insisting that the case reflects what he believes is the selective use of state institutions against political opponents rather than the impartial enforcement of the law.
Chairman Wontumi’s conviction has triggered widespread political reactions within the opposition NPP. Senior party figures, including Minority Members of Parliament, the party’s General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong and several national executives, have questioned both the legal basis of the conviction and the fairness of the trial.
They have alleged that the proceedings were marked by constitutional irregularities, including the refusal of the trial court to refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court and the alleged denial of the accused’s counsel of choice.
The Akonta Mining prosecution stems from allegations that Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited breached provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) relating to mining operations on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The prosecution maintained that offences were committed under the mining laws, leading to the convictions and custodial sentence imposed by the High Court.
While the opposition continues to criticise the judgment, the case is expected to proceed to the appellate courts, where Chairman Wontumi’s legal team is anticipated to challenge both the conviction and the sentence.
