Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to hand over its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for arrest and prosecution over alleged environmental crimes.
Speaking on Kumasi based Ultimate106.9 FM’s ‘Cup of Tea’ program, monitored by www.kumasimail.com, Mustapha Gbande accused Chairman Wontumi of engaging in illegal mining activities that have severely degraded forest reserves and polluted rivers, posing a threat to countless Ghanaians.
“I promised that within a week of winning power, we would arrest Wontumi. I have been searching for him, but to date, I don’t know where he is hiding. Anyone who knows his whereabouts should help me locate him,” Gbande said in his interview with host Julius Caesar Anadem.
Gbande emphasized that Chairman Wontumi would be held accountable for the environmental damage caused through illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
He pledged that the NDC would ensure that affected regions such as Ashanti, Western, and parts of the Central Region receive compensation for land degradation, water pollution, and other forms of environmental destruction.
“Wontumi will compensate the Ashanti Region, Western Region, and some parts of the Central Region for the land degradation, water pollution, and environmental damage caused,” he stated. “We will sell his machines and properties, including his houses, to compensate Ghanaians for the harm he has caused.”
The Deputy General Secretary further revealed the NDC’s intention to visit Chairman Wontumi’s mining sites to assess whether reclamation efforts have been carried out in line with Ghana’s mining regulations.
“We are going to inspect his mining sites to determine if reclamation has been done after his mining activities,” he said.
Mustapha Gbande challenged the NPP to dissociate itself from Chairman Wontumi, whom he described as an “unintelligent braggart,” to salvage the party’s reputation, which he believes has been tainted by Wontumi’s alleged illegal activities.
Chairman Wontumi’s mining company, Akonta Mines, has been implicated in various investigations and exposés highlighting the devastating effects of illegal mining on Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves. Critics, including environmental advocates, have accused the Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia-led government of shielding Chairman Wontumi from arrest and prosecution.
Gbande’s comments come in the wake of the NPP’s significant loss in the December 7 elections, which saw the NDC securing key victories in traditionally strong NPP regions.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
