Wontumi not in galamsey; Minority's claim 'ridiculous' – Aide

Edward Kwesi Akuoko, aide to the governing New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, (Chairman Wuntumi), has debunked accusations that his boss is engaged in illegal small-scale mining popularly known as galamsey.

He told Valentina Ofori Afriyie on Class 91.3FM’s 505 news programme on Tuesday, 24 July 2018, that the allegations were “funny and ridiculous”.

Other leading members of the governing NPP have also been accused of indulging in illegal small-scale mining despite a ban by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

According to the Ranking Member of Parliament's Mines and Energy Committee, Adam Mutawakilu, incontrovertible evidence available to the Minority indicates that the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John and Chairman Wontumi, are involved in some galamsey activities.

Addressing the press in Accra on Tuesday, 24 July 2018, Mr Mutawakilu, who is also the Member of Parliament for Damongo, further accused the president of shielding these people and other NPP members who are neck-deep in illegal mining.

He said: “The Minister [of Lands and Forestry] said until the water bodies are clean, they cannot lift the ban. The chief of Jacobu came out clearly that the CEO of Forestry Commission and Wontumi, that is the chairman of NPP in Ashanti Region, are engaged in galamsey, and let me say frankly, it’s a big fact and it’s a slap on the face of the president.

However, Mr Akuoko said he “sometimes feel that the NDC are of the view that Chairman Wontumi and Mr Afriyie are too powerful and popular so they want to associate their names with galamsey so as to gain attention.”

According to him, “Chairman Wontomi has never been engaged in any form of mining since 2013”.

He, therefore, challenged Mr Mutawakilu to provide evidence to his accusations and make the appropriate authorities act on it.