Energy Analyst and communications member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwadwo Poku, has stated that the widely circulated video of former President Akufo-Addo asserting that Akonta Mining was not involved in illegal activities aligns with the court ruling that sentenced Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) to 20 years in prison.
According to him, the court did not find Chairman Wontumi or Akonta Mining guilty of illegal mining.
“If the president declared that Akonta Mining is not involved in galamsey, then President Nana Addo was absolutely correct, as this judgment does not indicate that Akonta Mining was engaged in illegal mining,” he stated.
According to his interpretation of the judgment, Akonta Mining granted concessions to another individual involved in mining activities, which resulted in significant destruction of the forest. Given the severe impact of the mining activities by such individual, the judge rendered the verdict.
He said that the court’s ruling hinged on two key issues, namely the allocation of mineral rights without consent and the promotion of an unauthorized mining venture.
Let’s remove the term galamsey. Was there any illegal activity on his part according to the ruling?,” Poku remarked, emphasizing that the judgment did not imply that Chairman Wontumi was personally involved in illegal mining activities.
He also expressed disapproval of labeling Chairman Wontumi as a galamsey operator, contending that the individual responsible for the mining activity was distinct and had gained access to the concession independently.
