Former Adansi Asokwa Member of Parliament, KT Hammond, has called on the government to ensure that all persons accused of involvement in illegal mining activities, including individuals linked to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), are investigated and prosecuted if found culpable.
Mr. Hammond, a former Deputy Attorney General, said the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, must be conducted without political bias, stressing that no individual should be protected because of their political affiliation.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, July 20, the former lawmaker questioned why some individuals whose names have been associated with alleged illegal mining activities have not faced similar investigations or legal action.
According to him, delays in addressing some of the allegations have created the impression that certain persons are being shielded by the current administration.
“I’m talking about people who have been denied their right and people who have been shielded. Look at the names which have been mentioned. It appears their insurance policies have been renewed because they have the protective shield of the current administration. They have become untouchable,” he stated.
Mr. Hammond insisted that allegations of criminal conduct must be thoroughly investigated, regardless of the political circumstances surrounding them, arguing that crimes do not have an expiration period.
“Crime has no expiry date; it has no sell-by date,” he said.
He questioned why some individuals who have allegedly been mentioned in connection with illegal mining activities have not received the same level of scrutiny as others.
“The alacrity with which Wontumi has been dealt with, one would have thought that the names which have been mentioned, they have been mentioned for about one and a half years now. What are we waiting for?” he asked.
The former MP urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to democracy and the rule of law by ensuring that all persons are treated equally before the law.
His comments come after the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in July 2025 to investigate alleged illegal mining activities involving NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin and the party’s Third National Vice Chairman, Abanga Yakubu.
The directive followed petitions submitted over allegations of unauthorised mining activities, with EOCO instructed to invite the two officials for questioning.
Meanwhile, the NPP has raised concerns over the status of those petitions following the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case.
The High Court in Accra convicted Chairman Wontumi and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts, with the sentences running concurrently. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count, while Akonta Mining Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
