The legal battle over illegal mining in Samreboi has sparked a heated debate about fairness in the Ghanaian justice system. At the center of the storm is the conviction of Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, better known as Chairman Wontumi. While the state has secured a win, some legal experts argue that the victory is hollow because it doesn’t target everyone involved.
The case revolves around illegal mining activities on a concession owned by Wontumi. While the owner has faced the brunt of the legal consequences, questions are arising about the roles of other key players. This tension highlights a broader struggle to clean up the mining sector without appearing politically motivated.
Lawyer Godlove Adjei Tenkorang has been vocal about these gaps, pointing to individuals like Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi. He stated, “I blame the government and the Attorney General for deliberately ignoring them and deciding that they will prosecute only the owner of the mining concession and leave out the perpetrators of the mining itself.” He further argued that “the giver of a bribe and the taker of the bribe are both guilty of the same offence.”
This perceived imbalance creates a troubling image of selective justice that could erode public trust in the law. If only the most visible figures are penalized, the legal process risks looking like a tool for convenience rather than a pursuit of truth. For the law to be respected, it must be applied evenly across the board.
Tenkorang emphasizes that the fight against illegal mining is a critical priority for the nation. However, he maintains that this effort will only command public confidence if all persons found to have played a role in an offence are investigated and prosecuted without discrimination. Without this consistency, the battle against illegal mining may never truly succeed.
