The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, has dared Ghanaians with any evidence that the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Wontumi, is engaged in illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.
According to the chief, the government and police authorities can only operate on concrete evidence and not hearsay, rumours or innuendos.
He, therefore, challenged anyone in possession of such evidence to produce it for Wontumi to be arrested.
“I have heard that Wontumi is doing galamsey. Whether it is true or not, I don’t know and I don’t have any evidence, so how do I tell the president about Wontumi in such a forum or expect me to speak about an issue on national television when I don’t have any facts or direct evidence on Wontumi’s activities?
“So, if you have the evidence or anyone has evidence that Wontumi is into galamsey, make it available to the president and he will act on it,” he told Morning Show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II also cautioned chiefs against engaging in illegal mining, adding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has their full support in arresting and prosecuting persons involved in the act in spite of their status in the society.
“The chiefs have been warned against the practice because we have asked the President to deal with anyone who is involved, whether a chief, a politician or whoever must be arrested to curb the menace,” he added.
On September 30, 2022, the Minerals Commission issued a statement asking Akonta Mining, a company owned by Chairman Wontumi, to stop mining operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, describing the activities of the company as illegal.
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com