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The Public Relations Officer of the Samreboi Youth Association, Godwin Tweneboah, has said the imprisonment of Akonta Mining owner and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will mean little to affected communities unless the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining is reversed.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (21 July), Tweneboah said residents of Samreboi were more concerned about restoring degraded lands, polluted water bodies and lost livelihoods than celebrating the conviction of a high-profile political figure.
“Wontumi being in prison for 20 years doesn’t add any value to our community,” Tweneboah said.
According to him, communities directly affected by illegal mining continue to grapple with contaminated rivers, destroyed farmlands and deteriorating living conditions despite the court’s landmark ruling.
He said residents were looking beyond the custodial sentence and wanted government to ensure that degraded lands were reclaimed and affected communities compensated.
“We want to see our lands restored. We want to see our water bodies restored. That is what will benefit us as a people,” he said.
Tweneboah explained that illegal mining had disrupted farming, reduced agricultural productivity and threatened the livelihoods of many families in Samreboi, with some residents struggling to earn a living after their lands were destroyed.
He urged authorities to compel companies and individuals found liable for environmental degradation to undertake reclamation works rather than focusing solely on custodial punishment.
“The damage has already been done. What we expect now is that the environment should be restored so that future generations can also benefit from these natural resources,” he said.
While acknowledging that the conviction demonstrated that no individual is above the law, Tweneboah maintained that justice would only be meaningful if it translated into tangible improvements in the lives of communities hardest hit by illegal mining.
He called on government agencies to intensify rehabilitation efforts in mining communities and ensure that polluted rivers, degraded forests and destroyed farmlands receive urgent attention.
The High Court sentenced Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment after convicting him over offences connected to illegal mining activities involving Akonta Mining. The judgment has been widely welcomed by environmental advocates, although affected communities say the focus must now shift to restoring the environment and rebuilding livelihoods.
