The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the status of alleged investigations involving NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin, NDC Vice Chairman Aba
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the status of alleged investigations involving NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin, NDC Vice Chairman Abanga Yakubu, and other party figures accused of links to illegal mining activities, following the 20-year prison sentence handed to Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
NPP General Secretary Lawyer Justin Frimpong Kodua raised the questions while reacting to the High Court’s decision, accusing the government of applying the fight against illegal mining selectively by pursuing political opponents while failing to act on allegations involving members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Addressing the media, Lawyer Kodua said the conviction of Chairman Wontumi should not be presented as proof of the government’s commitment to fighting galamsey when unresolved allegations involving individuals associated with the NDC remain outstanding.
“What has become of the petition submitted to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) seeking an investigation into allegations concerning Mr Joseph Yamin, the NDC National Organiser, and Abanga Yakubu, Vice-Chairman of the NDC? What has become of those investigations?” he questioned.
He also asked what had happened to other allegations involving some NDC representatives and officials who had been accused by various groups of engaging in illegal mining activities.
According to Lawyer Kodua, the government’s approach to the fight against galamsey lacks credibility if it focuses only on political opponents while ignoring accusations involving people within its own political fold.
“Justice cannot be selective. And I repeat, justice cannot be selective,” he stressed.
The NPP General Secretary said the party considers Chairman Wontumi’s conviction a political matter, arguing that the court decision was delivered despite what he described as a lack of evidence to support the conviction.
He maintained that it was never disputed that Chairman Wontumi legally acquired his mineral concession and argued that the prosecution failed to prove that the concession had been unlawfully transferred or assigned.
“It is our considered view that Chairman Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence at all to support a conviction in respect of the offence for which he has been convicted,” he stated.
Lawyer Kodua said the conviction was based on assumptions and inferences rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt, describing the judgement as a “travesty of justice” that must be overturned through the appellate process.
He further accused the NDC government of attempting to use the conviction as a political achievement in the fight against illegal mining.
“They think that the conviction of Chairman Wontumi would be the trophy to appease the Ghanaian people for their failures. This is no trophy,” he said.
The NPP general secretary also referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s admission that some persons within his administration are involved in galamsey and demanded clarity on the actions taken following those remarks.
“Indeed, the president himself has acknowledged that persons in his administration are involved in galamsey in this country. What concrete action has followed those admissions?” he asked.
He argued that Ghanaians deserve equal application of justice and accountability regardless of political affiliation.
Lawyer Kodua assured NPP supporters that Chairman Wontumi would not face the legal battle alone, stating that the party’s legal team had already begun processes to challenge the judgement.
“The NPP considers Wontumi a political prisoner. The NPP as a political party considers Wontumi a political prisoner,” he declared.
He added that the party remains committed to defending constitutional democracy and pursuing justice through all available legal channels.
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