Corporate Affairs Director for Ghana Heavy Equipment, Deladem Abiwu, has said the prosecution of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is not politically motivated but is based on alleged breaches of the Minerals Commission Act.
Speaking on Angel FM’s “Anɔpa Bɔfoɔ” on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Mr. Abiwu said the NPP’s decision to hold a press conference over the matter was surprising, arguing that the appropriate course of action for anyone dissatisfied with a court’s decision is to file an appeal.
“I was surprised to see the NPP hold a press conference on Chairman Wontumi’s case. If a court of competent jurisdiction gives a ruling and you are not satisfied, you go on appeal,” he said.
He explained that there was nothing wrong with obtaining a mining licence, provided the holder complied with the law. However, he alleged that Chairman Wontumi transferred his mining licence to another party without first obtaining approval from the sector minister, contrary to the Minerals Commission Act.
“There is nothing wrong with mining if it is done the right way. What makes Chairman Wontumi’s mining illegal is not the licence itself but the way it was transferred,” he stated.
Mr. Abiwu said Section 14 of the Minerals Commission Act requires ministerial approval before a mining licence can be transferred to another person, adding that the law was amended by the previous NPP administration as part of efforts to combat illegal mining.
“The same law introduced to fight galamsey is now being applied. No one has any grudge against Chairman Wontumi, so no one should say this is politically motivated,” he stressed.
He added that the law should apply equally to everyone regardless of political affiliation and maintained that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would also face prosecution if found to be involved in illegal mining.
“This issue does not pertain to only Chairman Wontumi. The NDC is ready to prosecute any of its own members indulging in galamsey,” he added.
Source: Georgina Ewuraesi Boison
