A former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Abdulai Bistav Fuseini, has said the jailing of Wontumi has exposed how political influence shielded some persons involved in illegal mining under the erstwhile administration.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts by the Accra High Court over illegal activities on a mining concession he owned at Samraboi in the Western region.
The sentences are to run concurrently. The court also fined him 10,000 penalty units on each of the two counts. Akonta Mining Limited, a company owned by Wontumi, which was convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
Mr. Fuseini says Wontumi enjoyed what he describes as a “political insurance” which expired the moment his party left power, paving way for his prosecution to become possible.
He says many were involved in galamsey under the previous administration but were overlooked by the government due to political considerations. Fuseini, speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Monday, July 20, 2026, after Wontumi’s sentencing, admonished state institutions not to allow political connections to affect the delivery of their mandate.
“The [NPP] government knew those who were doing the illegal mining. But what did the politicians do? They simply offered their insurance. As for Wontumi, his insurance cover expired when the NPP government went out of office. So, he was exposed,” he said.
The former Tamale Central lawmaker referenced a letter issued by the former sector minister under the Akufo-Addo administration, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, which cautioned Wontumi to desist from indulging in illegal mining in the Samraboi Forest Reserve, following the Minerals Commission advice that the galamsey kingpin had no authorisation to do so.
He said political considerations prevented the previous government from tackling the menace which was so glaring, accusing Akufo-Addo of defending Wontumi, even his involvement was obvious.
“Nana Akufo-Addo failed, refused, or neglected to deal with it. He was the one who cleared Wontumi,” he stated.
READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo defends Wontumi’s Akonta Mining; says firm not engaged in galamsey
According to Fuseini, until governments show some commitment to prosecute politically exposed persons involved in illegal mining, the fight against the menace will not be successful.
“People who are doing the galamsey have simply taken insurance, political insurance. Until the government starts dealing with those people, the impunity will not stop,” he added.
