NPP gov’t had already disowned Wontumi over alleged illegality before power changed – Dafeamekpor

South Dayi Member of Parliament and Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has dismissed claims that the legal challenges facing Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, are politically motivated, insisting that the case originated during the previous NPP administration.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on Monday, July 20, Mr. Dafeamekpor argued that investigations into the alleged illegal mining activities linked to Chairman Wontumi began long before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed office.

According to the Majority Chief Whip, attempts to portray the prosecution as an act of political persecution ignore the fact that the former NPP government had already taken steps against the Ashanti Regional Chairman over the allegations.

Mr. Dafeamekpor stated that the previous government had publicly acknowledged concerns surrounding Chairman Wontumi's alleged involvement in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, before the change in administration.

"The NPP government disowned him and said he was engaged in an illegality before the NDC came to power," he said during the interview.

He maintained that the legal proceedings cannot reasonably be described as politically engineered because the investigations and related actions were initiated while the New Patriotic Party was still in government.

According to him, the current administration is merely allowing the judicial process to take its course rather than initiating a fresh case against the NPP regional chairman.

Mr. Dafeamekpor's remarks follow the recent ruling by the High Court, which found Chairman Wontumi guilty in connection with illegal mining activities on the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The case forms part of Ghana's broader efforts to combat illegal mining, an activity that has caused extensive environmental degradation, pollution of major rivers, destruction of forest reserves, and loss of agricultural land across several regions.

Authorities have intensified enforcement measures against individuals and companies accused of engaging in unlawful mining operations as part of the government's campaign to protect the country's natural resources.

The High Court's judgment has sparked strong political debate, with the opposition New Patriotic Party rejecting the verdict and insisting that Chairman Wontumi will challenge the decision through the appellate courts.

Party officials have expressed confidence that the conviction will be overturned on appeal, arguing that legal processes should be allowed to run their full course.

The ruling has also reignited discussions over political accountability, the fight against illegal mining, and whether anti-corruption and environmental enforcement actions are being applied fairly across the political divide.

As the appeal process begins, the case is expected to remain a closely watched legal and political issue, with both the governing NDC and the opposition NPP continuing to defend their respective positions on the matter.