Be bold and prosecute NDC officials involved in galamsey - Mahama told

Incumbent Central Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Takyi-Mensah, has condemned the sentencing of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after he was found guilty on all counts in a case related to illegal mining activities.

Commenting on the sentence, he said the NDC government was not being fair to the NPP, adding that many NDC officials were also involved in illegal mining and should be prosecuted.

In an exclusive interview with MyNewsGH.com reporter Hajia Asana Gordon at the NPP Regional Office during the vetting of regional executive aspirants, Takyi-Mensah accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of using the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to promote illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, despite campaigning on a promise to eradicate the practice.

According to him, “The NDC promised Ghanaians during the campaign that it would eliminate galamsey, but NDC officials are now deeply involved in the illegal mining business.”

Takyi-Mensah said he was disappointed in the government led by President John Dramani Mahama, claiming the NPP had evidence that some NDC stakeholders, including some constituency chairmen, were involved in illegal mining.

He also alleged that the government was using arrests and stringent bail conditions to intimidate political opponents.