A Ghanaian court has sentenced one of the country’s most influential opposition politicians to 20 years in prison with hard labour, in a landmark ruling that has reignited debate over illegal mining and allegations of political persecution.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was convicted on Monday by a court in Accra for offences linked to illegal mining carried out through his company, Akonta Mining. In addition to the prison sentence, the senior New Patriotic Party (NPP) official was ordered to pay more than $10,000 in fines.

The ruling makes Boasiako the first high-profile Ghanaian politician to be convicted since the government launched its nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, locally known as “galamsey,” in 2017.

Courtroom observers said Boasiako appeared visibly stunned as the judge delivered the sentence, bringing an end to one of Ghana’s most closely watched environmental prosecutions.

Prosecutors accused the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman of unlawfully assigning mineral rights and facilitating an unlicensed mining operation by allowing two individuals to conduct mining activities on Akonta Mining’s concession without approval from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Boasiako denied all the charges throughout the trial.

The verdict immediately triggered outrage within the opposition NPP, with party leaders describing the conviction as politically motivated.

NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong accused the court of ignoring evidence that he claimed would have cleared Boasiako of wrongdoing. He argued that the government’s anti-illegal mining campaign risked losing credibility if it was used to target political opponents.

“The fight against illegal mining cannot become credible only when it targets political opponents in respect of whom evidence of wrongdoing does not exist,” Frimpong told reporters, adding that the party had already begun the legal process to appeal the conviction.

The case has once again placed Ghana’s illegal mining crisis at the centre of national attention.

Although Ghana remains Africa’s largest gold producer, illegal mining has caused widespread environmental destruction across the country. Rivers have become heavily polluted, forests have been cleared, and thousands of hectares of farmland have been destroyed as illegal miners search for gold.

Successive governments have struggled to contain the problem despite deploying security forces, introducing stricter regulations and shutting down illegal mining sites. Critics have long argued that politically connected individuals and wealthy financiers have escaped accountability while lower-level miners have borne the brunt of enforcement efforts.

For many observers, Boasiako’s conviction represents a major turning point.

Environmental advocates welcomed the ruling, saying it sends a clear message that influential figures are no longer beyond the reach of the law.

Adib Saani, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, described the judgment as a significant step towards protecting Ghana’s natural resources.

“It sends a strong signal that accountability is indispensable if Ghana is to protect its forests, rivers and other natural resources,” he said. (BBC News)