Lawyer Martin Kpebu has defended the prosecution’s decision to rely on two admitted participants in illegal mining activities as witnesses in the trial of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, arguing that the strategy was aimed at securing the conviction of a “kingpin” in Ghana’s fight against galamsey.
His remarks come after the High Court in Accra on Monday convicted the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman in the Samreboi illegal mining case and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The judgment has generated public discussion, particularly over the fact that two individuals who admitted during the trial to participating in the illegal mining operation testified for the prosecution and were not themselves prosecuted.
Speaking on JoyNews‘ PM Express, Mr Kpebu said the outcome aligns with the government’s long-standing commitment to pursue the masterminds behind illegal mining rather than focusing solely on lower-level participants.
“We’ve always been told that the president wanted to get the kingpins,” he said.
According to Mr Kpebu, the prosecution witnesses, identified as Henry Okum and Michael Ayisi, were subordinate actors in the operation, while Wontumi occupied a leadership role.
“So far, it appears Henry Okum and then Michael Ayisi are underlings, and Wontumi is a kingpin,” he stated.
Mr Kpebu argued that Wontumi had publicly portrayed himself over the years as a prominent figure in Ghana’s mining sector through displays of wealth and influence.
“Don’t forget, in the past, Wontumi has been to a radio station with gold bars, flaunted wealth, showing necklaces, etc. So Wontumi has posed as a kingpin,” he said.
He maintained that using the two men as prosecution witnesses to build the case against Wontumi was consistent with the broader objective of dismantling the leadership structures behind illegal mining operations.
“And we all want kingpins, not underlings. So Okum and Ayisi are underlings. That’s why they were used as prosecution witnesses to get their kingpin,” Mr Kpebu added.
The High Court’s ruling is regarded as one of the most significant convictions in Ghana’s campaign against illegal mining, making Chairman Wontumi one of the highest-profile political figures to be jailed for offences linked to galamsey.
