The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has condemned what he describes as government-sanctioned harassment of individuals without concrete evidence.

This follows the release of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, May 26, Mr Ahiagbah expressed concern over the way Chairman Wontumi was handled by the CID of the Ghana Police Service, accusing the authorities of acting without proper cause.

“He’s been released on bail after all this harassment—seizing his account, creating the impression that he’s possibly done something wrong—yet the government had no evidence to support their actions,” he said.

"Whilst it's refreshing that he hasn't done anything wrong and perhaps he’s been left go, it is worrying that our government would be operating this way, harassing people without evidence, and then, when faced with the person they accused, you don't have any evidence to show, but by which time would have harassed you, frozen your account, and whatever you suffer as a result of that process will just have happened to on no course.  It's very sad," he pointed out.

Chairman Wontumi, who had been invited by the CID over allegations of involvement in illegal mining (galamsey), was released after being interrogated in the presence of his legal team. He reportedly submitted documentation proving that he is a licensed small-scale miner.

Mr Ahiagbah insisted that “The difference between a galamseyer and a legal small-scale miner is documentation,adding that “Chairman Wontumi showed them his papers. If the government had any evidence to contradict that, they would have presented it. But they didn’t.”

While acknowledging that the investigation has not been officially closed, Mr Ahiagbah insisted that the burden of proof lies with the state, which he believes has failed to justify its actions.

“It is sad that after all this, someone’s reputation can be dragged through the mud without evidence. Is government seriously prosecuting the fight against galamsey with diligence, or is this just political optics?” he questioned.