NPP Accuses Government Of Selective Justice In Illegal Mining Crackdown

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government of applying selective justice in its fight against illegal mining, arguing that people linked to the party are being prosecuted while allegations involving individuals associated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have not been pursued with the same urgency.

The claims were made by the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, at a press conference on Monday after the conviction of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over illegal mining-related offences.

Frimpong Kodua  alleged that the government’s handling of illegal mining cases was politically motivated.

“A troubling pattern is emerging in our country, a pattern where the government appears eager to pursue perceived political opponents while others who are alleged to be involved in illegal mining are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny,” he alleged.

He dismissed suggestions that Chairman Wontumi’s conviction reflected the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining.

“They think the conviction of Chairman Wontumi will be the trophy to appease the Ghanaian people for their failures. This is no trophy,” he stated.

The NPP General Secretary said the fight against illegal mining would only be credible if the law was applied equally to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

“Justice cannot be selective. The fight against illegal mining cannot become credible only when it targets political opponents while overlooking allegations involving others, especially from the President’s own party,” he said.

Frimpong Kodua also called on the government to update the public on investigations into allegations involving some individuals linked to the NDC, claiming that despite public concerns, there had been no visible progress.

He further urged the government to prioritise addressing wider national challenges, including illegal mining, insecurity, flooding and unemployment, instead of what he described as politically motivated prosecutions.

“Ghanaians expect leadership that demonstrates urgency, competence and an unwavering commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods and national security. No government should attempt to divert public attention from these pressing national concerns through selective prosecutions,” he said.

The NPP said it would challenge Chairman Wontumi’s conviction through the courts while maintaining that the law should be applied fairly to every Ghanaian irrespective of political affiliation.

Illegal mining, widely known in Ghana as galamsey, remains one of the country’s most pressing environmental and governance challenges.

Successive governments have pledged to clamp down on the practice, which has been blamed for the destruction of forests, pollution of major rivers and the loss of agricultural land.

However, the campaign against illegal mining has repeatedly attracted criticism from both political parties and civil society groups over allegations of inconsistent enforcement and political interference.