The conviction and sentencing of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been welcomed by Ing. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines. Ashigbey has described the ruling as an important step in Ghana’s battle against illegal mining.
His comments follow the High Court’s Criminal Division’s sentencing of Chairman Wontumi to 20 years in prison on each of two counts, with the terms to be served concurrently.
In addition, the court fined each count 10,000 penalty units.
Akonta Mining Limited was also found guilty by the court and ordered to pay 15,000 penalty units on each of the two offences.
Wontumi was found guilty on counts one and four, while Akonta Mining Limited was found guilty on counts three and six, after Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay determined that the prosecution had proven the offences beyond a reasonable doubt.
In an interview, Ing. Ashigbey stated that the ruling makes it clear that illicit mining would not be tolerated.
A long-time opponent of illicit mining, he expressed hope that those found guilty of similar crimes will likewise be subject to the full force of the law, including jail time and, if necessary, monetary fines.
He also called on the Mahama administration to make sure that mining laws are enforced consistently and fairly, irrespective of a person’s political affiliation or social standing.
The convictions came after the High Court denied the defense’s last-minute request to delay the verdict and send the case’s constitutional issues to the Supreme Court.
The defence contended that before a verdict could be rendered, the supreme court had to interpret issues raised by its legal arguments.
However, Justice Kocuvie-Tay denied the application, concluding that the court could proceed with its ruling since the pertinent provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) were unambiguous and did not conflict with Article 19(11) of the 1992 Constitution.
Source: newsthemegh.com