Kpebu Defends Wontumi Verdict: ‘The Kingpin Has Fallen’
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has defended the prosecution’s decision to rely on witnesses involved in illegal mining activities to secure the conviction of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, describing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman as the “kingpin” behind the operation.
His remarks follow the High Court’s decision to sentence Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty in the Samreboi illegal mining case, a judgment widely regarded as one of the most significant convictions in Ghana’s campaign against illegal mining.
The ruling has generated public discussion over the role of two prosecution witnesses who admitted their involvement in the illegal mining activities but were not prosecuted after testifying against Wontumi.
Commenting on the development on Joy News, Kpebu argued that the outcome aligns with the long-standing objective of law enforcement agencies to dismantle the leadership structures behind illegal mining rather than focus solely on lower-level operatives.
According to him, the two witnesses, identified as Henry Okum and Michael Ayisi, were subordinate actors in the operation, while Wontumi was the principal figure directing the activities.
Kpebu maintained that using individuals lower down the chain as prosecution witnesses is a recognised legal strategy when the objective is to secure convictions against those considered to be the masterminds of criminal enterprises.
He further argued that Wontumi had, over the years, publicly projected himself as a powerful player in the mining industry through displays of wealth and influence, reinforcing the perception that he occupied a leading position within the illegal mining network.
In light of that, the lawyer said the prosecution’s approach was justified, insisting that Ghana’s fight against illegal mining should prioritise bringing influential figures and financiers to justice instead of concentrating only on workers and field operators.
The High Court’s conviction of Wontumi has been hailed by many as a landmark development in efforts to combat illegal mining, with legal and policy analysts closely watching its implications for future prosecutions targeting high-profile individuals linked to environmental crimes.
Source: Joy News
By: Joyce Owusu
