Asiedu Nketia expresses shock over NPP support for Wontumi

National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has questioned the New Patriotic Party’s decision to rally behind its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, following his conviction over illegal mining-related offences.

Speaking during an interview over the weekend, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said he was surprised by the NPP’s public defence of Chairman Wontumi, arguing that the party risked undermining its credibility on the fight against illegal mining by embracing a member found guilty by the court.

“I have followed the Wontumi judgement and I don’t understand the NPP’s position. If he were in my party, NDC, I would not pay attention to it,” he said.

He maintained that the NPP should have allowed Chairman Wontumi to deal with the legal consequences of his conviction rather than making the issue a party-wide campaign.

“Can the NPP now make the case against the destruction of water bodies and forests when one of their people has been caught facilitating the act with evidence? Why won’t you allow him to carry his own cross but you get the entire party behind him?” he asked.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia further argued that the opposition party’s handling of the matter exposed broader leadership challenges, warning that a weakened opposition would ultimately be detrimental to Ghana’s democratic development.

“I think the NPP has a problem with leadership. If the NPP collapses it will even be a problem for us because we are building a democracy. It is in the interest of the ruling party that the opposition party will be responsible,” he stated.

His remarks come after the NPP strongly criticised the conviction of Chairman Wontumi, describing the judgment as an example of selective justice under the Mahama administration.

At a press conference following Wontumi’s sentencing, NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua accused the government of targeting political opponents while allegedly ignoring illegal mining involving individuals linked to the governing party.

Chairman Wontumi was on Friday sentenced by an Accra High Court to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after being convicted of offences related to illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining Limited in Samreboi. His legal team has since announced plans to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.