Former Member of Parliament for New Edubiase, George Oduro, has claimed that New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was intentionally singled out and made a scapegoat in the illegal mining case that led to his conviction.
According to Mr Oduro, the manner in which the case was handled raises concerns about the fairness of Ghana’s justice system and could undermine investor confidence, as prospective investors closely assess a country’s legal and governance environment before committing resources.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former legislator emphasised that no one is above the law, insisting that anyone found guilty of an offence should be held accountable.
“Nobody is above the law. Wontumi is not, neither am I. We can all be imprisoned,” he stated.
Despite this, Mr Oduro questioned the decision to release an individual who was allegedly arrested at the mining site in possession of mining equipment and accused of engaging in illegal mining activities, only for that person to later testify as a prosecution witness against Chairman Wontumi.
He argued that the development suggested that Wontumi had been the primary focus of the prosecution from the outset.
“The point is, before the trial, the person who was arrested at the site doing galamsey was set free. He became a witness to testify against Wontumi. So this tells you that Wontumi was the target,” he said.
Mr Oduro further alleged that the objective of the prosecution was to ensure Wontumi was punished rather than to apply the law fairly.
“He was the one to be punished and used as a scapegoat, not because we were working within the law,” he added.
The former MP also questioned why the alleged operator was not prosecuted despite reportedly being arrested at the mining site, while Wontumi, whom he claimed owned the equipment involved, was convicted.
“Because how do you arrest someone with all equipment in his name and engaging in galamsey, then you rather set him free?” he asked.
Chairman Wontumi was recently sentenced to prison after being found guilty of offences related to illegal mining.
Mr Oduro’s remarks add to the ongoing national debate over the handling of illegal mining prosecutions and whether the law is being enforced consistently and without political bias.
