By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), July 28, GNA – The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) Ghana LBG, has condemned the minority in parliament for criticising the judiciary over the conviction of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
GloMeF is a Sunyani-based human rights and anti-corruption media advocacy Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
Boasiako, popularly in the political circle as “Chairman Wuntumi” was convicted by an Accra High Court for illegal mining offences and he is presently spending 20 years in jail.
The minority in parliament has since criticised the sentence, describing Boasiako conviction as a “miscarriage of justice”.
In a statement issued and signed by Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of the GloMeF and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani called for the respect for the rule of law and equal Justice for all.
The statement noted that: “The GloMeF considers these statements by the minority as unfortunate, irresponsible, capable of undermining public confidence in the judicial system”.
It emphasised that the independence of the judiciary remained a cornerstone of consolidating the gains of the nation’s fledgling democracy.
“Every accused person is entitled to a fair trial and, where dissatisfied with a judgment, has the constitutional right to appeal,” it added.
However, “It’s inappropriate for political leaders to seek to discredit the courts simply because a judgment affects one of their own”.
The statement reminded the NPP of their position of consistently championing stronger measures against illegal mining while the party was in government and supported amendments to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to impose tougher sanctions on offenders.
“So, it’s unfortunate that today the same party is condemning the application of those same laws,” it added.
The statement indicated that: “Ghanaians were repeatedly assured that illegal mining posed a serious threat to the country’s rivers, forests, cocoa farms, biodiversity, and public health.
So, the NPP cannot now reject the enforcement of laws it once promoted,” saying that “justice must never be selective”.
The law must apply equally to every Ghanaian, regardless of political affiliation, social status, or economic influence.
If the evidence presented before the court was sufficient to secure a conviction, then the appropriate legal remedy is an appeal, and not political attacks on the judiciary or attempts to portray the judicial process as illegitimate.
The statement noted that the fight against illegal mining had cost the nation enormously, worrying that forest reserves had been degraded, rivers polluted, fertile agricultural lands destroyed, and livelihoods threatened.
“These devastating consequences are precisely why parliament enacted stronger legal sanctions to deter offenders and protect the nation’s natural resources,” it explained.
It called on the NPP and the minority in parliament to respect the independence of the judiciary and avoid comments that might erode public confidence in the administration of justice.
The statement also urged political parties to demonstrate consistency in the fight against corruption and illegal mining by supporting accountability irrespective of who was involved.
Law enforcement agencies must also continue investigating and prosecuting all suspects implicated in illegal mining without fear, favour, political interference, or selective justice.
It also called on the government to strengthen enforcement of mining and environmental laws and ensure that no individual was treated as being above the law.
The statement noted that the nation’s democracy could flourish where the rule of law prevailed over partisan interests, saying that the judiciary ought to be allowed to perform its constitutional mandate without intimidation or political pressure.
It concluded that: “The fight against illegal mining isn’t a political contest but a national responsibility,” and pledged GloMeF dedication to promoting transparency, accountability, environmental justice, and the rule of law.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Dennis Peprah
[email protected]