Private legal practitioner Samuel Atta Akyea has denied formally asking President John Dramani Mahama to grant a presidential pardon to his client, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over a galamsey-related case.
Speaking on Citi FM on Tuesday, October 13, Mr Atta Akyea dismissed suggestions that he had approached the President to secure clemency for the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman.
“No, please. We didn’t do that,” he said when asked whether he had sought a pardon for his client.
However, the lawyer said he had expected President Mahama might consider granting Mr Boasiako clemency because illegal mining remains widespread in Ghana.
Mr Atta Akyea argued that the scale of galamsey and the involvement of influential people in the practice could have informed the President’s decision.
“Also, when the case was galamsey-related, we thought that the president, in his own mercy, would say that, look, the nation is awash with galamsey,” he said.
He added that he believed the President would be reluctant to impose a lengthy prison sentence in a case involving illegal mining, particularly given what he described as the involvement of prominent figures in the practice.
“I will not use a galamsey-tinted criminal matter to detain a man and let him remain there for 20 years. I’ll grant him pardon,” he said, describing what he thought the President might have considered.
The comments follow President Mahama’s decision on October 5 to pardon 863 convicted persons under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution, after consulting the Council of State.
The pardons were announced as part of activities marking Ghana’s Independence Anniversary.
