“Wontumi’s Conviction Wasn’t Political — His Own Government Built the Case” — Dafeamekpor Counters NPP Claims

Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP Rockson‑Nelson Dafeamekpor has dismissed suggestions that the conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) was politically engineered by the current administration.

Speaking on The Point of View on Monday, July 20, the lawyer insisted the case originated under the NPP government itself, long before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office.

“The record must reflect that it was not the NDC that went after him. It was his own government that established those facts before we came to inherit it.”

He explained that while in opposition, the NDC repeatedly demanded investigations into Akonta Mining after then Lands Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor and the Minerals Commission publicly stated that the company did not have a licence for the Samreboi concession.

Despite this, the NPP government maintained in Parliament that Akonta Mining was not engaged in illegal mining — a position the Minority challenged.

“If the government was really interested in fighting galamsey, Akonta Mining, owned by Chairman Wontumi, ought to have been one of its primary subjects of prosecution.”

His comments directly counter the NPP’s claim that Wontumi’s conviction amounts to political persecution, with the party describing him as a “political prisoner” and accusing the government of selective justice.

NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said the party believed the judgment was unjust and politically targeted.

But Dafeamekpor rejected that narrative, stressing that questions about Akonta Mining’s legality predate the NDC administration and were raised by state institutions under the NPP.

He also addressed claims that the prosecution lacked direct evidence.

“In criminal law jurisprudence, evidence does not always have to be direct. What is important is relevant evidence.”

He noted that the court had the duty to assess the relevance and weight of the evidence before arriving at its decision.

Dafeamekpor, however, acknowledged that Wontumi still has legal options.

“He has a right to an appeal, and he has very good, bright lawyers. So, it is not the end.”

The Accra High Court convicted Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited over illegal mining‑related offences linked to the Samreboi concession. Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, to run concurrently, while the company was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.