Dr. Ken Ashigbey, convenor of the Coalition Against Galamsey Ghana, says he wished the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a.k.a. Wontumi, had been given the maximum sentence for his crime.
He says giving galamsey kingpins maximum sentencing will be the surest way to deal decisively with the menace.
His comments come on the back of the sentencing of Wontumi, whom he says should have been given the maximum incarceration of 25 years instead of the 20 years given her by the trial judge.
“If we really are going to deal with Galamsey decisively, then we need to make sure that a lot of big men who are marauding and parading the corridors of power, flaunting their riches, they are all candidates to also be, sentenced,” he noted.
“On the issue of the 20 years in jail, I would have wished that a judge would have given the maximum sentence of 25 years, and also added the maximum fine,” he added.
Dr. Ashigbey explained that, “if you look at the law, it talks about either the fine or the custodial sentence, or both.”
He also explained why the courts need to be drastic in dealing with the kingpins, describing their acts as mass murdering and economic saboteurs.
“The reason why we need to be drastic in the sentencing of kingpins who are involved in Galamsey is that this, what they do is mass murder. If anybody had taken a gun and shot anybody, we’ll be asking for the maximum sentence.”
‘Galamsey kingpins are mass murderers; must face max sentence’ – Ashigbey after Wontumi’s sentencing
