Other galamsey kingpins must face the law - Ashigbey on Wontumi sentence

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Kenneth Ashigbey, has welcomed the 20-year prison sentence handed to Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Akonta Mining case.

Speaking on JoyNews on July 20, 2026, Ashigbey said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others engaged in illegal mining, although he believes harsher punishment could have been imposed.

“I’m happy that this case has gone its full circle. I would have wished that the learned judge would have given 25 years plus the maximum fine, but 20 years is good enough. Yes, it’s punitive enough, but not enough,” he said.

He expressed hope that other individuals involved in illegal mining, particularly those described as ‘kingpins,’ would also be held accountable to face similar penalties.

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“Other kingpins should be made to face justice,” he indicated, urging the Mahama administration to ensure that all persons found culpable in illegal mining activities are treated equally under the law.

His comments follow the High Court’s decision to sentence Chairman Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment on each of the two counts for which he was convicted, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on each count against him, while Akonta Mining Limited, which was convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.

The convictions came after the court dismissed a last-minute application by the defence seeking to delay judgment and refer constitutional questions arising from the case to the Supreme Court.

MRA/VPO

BREAKING: Chairman Wontumi jailed 20 years in prison