Presidential pardon for Wontumi a good call but he should serve for five to seven years - Martin Kpebu

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has backed calls for a presidential pardon for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, but says any clemency should only be considered after he has served part of his 20-year prison sentence.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Classfmonline.com, Mr. Kpebu argued that Chairman Wontumi should first spend between five and seven years in prison before becoming eligible for a presidential pardon.

"I said he should serve for five to seven years and also he should pay for the reclamation. I expect that Minerals Commission will go and do a report on what it takes to reclaim the place and then he should pay for it. For that's what is sufficient," he explained.

The lawyer also insisted that any consideration for clemency should be tied to environmental accountability, arguing that Chairman Wontumi should bear the cost of reclaiming land degraded by illegal mining activities.

His comments come amid growing calls from some members of the NPP for President John Dramani Mahama to grant Chairman Wontumi a presidential pardon following his conviction on illegal mining-related offences.

Mr. Kpebu maintained that while a pardon could be justified, it must not come at the expense of justice or environmental restoration.

He also rejected suggestions that the 20-year prison sentence with hard labour imposed on Chairman Wontumi was too lenient, despite the extensive destruction caused by illegal mining.

According to him, his position is rooted in the principles of human rights and the belief that imprisonment should serve as a tool for rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.

"For me, imprisonment should reform the person. He should come back when he will be useful to society and younger people can learn from him," he said.

Mr. Kpebu further argued that requiring Chairman Wontumi to serve the full 20-year sentence would be excessive, expressing hope that he would be released early enough to rebuild his life after serving a substantial portion of the term.

"I am hoping that he will be out soon enough to get ready to retire at 60," he stated.