Former New Edubiase Member of Parliament, George Oduro, has alleged that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was deliberately targeted and used as a scapegoat in the illegal mining case against him.
According to Mr Oduro, the handling of the case raises questions about Ghana’s commitment to enforcing the law fairly, arguing that investors pay close attention to the country’s legal and governance systems before making investment decisions.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former MP stressed that no individual, including himself or Chairman Wontumi, is above the law and that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing must face the consequences.
“Nobody is above the law. Wontumi is not, neither am I. We can all be imprisoned,” he said.
However, he questioned why a person who was allegedly arrested at the mining site with equipment and accused of engaging in illegal mining activities was later released and made a prosecution witness against Wontumi.
Mr Oduro argued that the development suggested that the NPP stalwart was the intended target of the prosecution.
“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.
“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 further questioned the basis for releasing the alleged operator while prosecuting Wontumi, who he claimed was the owner of the equipment found at the site.
“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 sentenced to a prison term after being found guilty in connection with illegal mining-related offences.
Mr Oduro’s comments come amid continued public debate over the fairness of prosecutions linked to illegal mining activities and whether the law is being applied consistently.
Source: adomonline.com
