The Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana’s convenor, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, is requesting an update on additional state security agency investigations into illegal mining, or “galamsey.”
Following Wontumi’s sentencing, he makes remarks that raise concerns about the status of other investigations of a similar nature.
The Accra High Court sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), to 20 years in prison on each of two counts for engaging in illicit activity on a mining concession he owned in Samraboi, Western Region.
The sentences must run simultaneously. In addition, he was punished 10,000 penalty units on each of the two counts by the court. Wontumi’s company, Akonta Mining Limited, was found guilty on two counts and paid 15,000 penalty units on each count.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 on Monday, July 20, 2026, Mr. Ashigbey questioned the status of the investigations that President Mahama had promised to carry out during the 2024 electioneering campaign.
“Where are the others? The kingpins that H.E. John Mahama said us he would concentrate on in 2024? “Where are the others?” he enquired.
He referenced the research by Prof. Kwabeng Frimpong Boateng, in which numerous politically exposed individuals were listed, but no action has been taken thereafter.
“We have had situations where Prof. Frimpong Boateng’s report is replete with other kingpins and politically exposed persons. We’ve had the Attorney-General of this current government who has asked EOCO to do some investigations, we are yet to get the report out of thatm,” he said.
He went on to describe President Mahama’s pledge to make the report accessible when he was questioned about it at his meeting with the various CSOs last year.
“In October last year when we met H.E. the President I asked that question, we were promised we were going to get the report, we have not seen the report.”
“The Aowin MP for example who has been accused by his traditional council of being involved in galamsey but he has said that he is not but it is the traditional council, where is the investigation into that?” he reiterated.
“We are not saying any of them are guilty, but where are the investigations to that?” stated Mr. Ashigbey.
Source: newsthemegh.com