Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, has strongly denied claims that his relationship with the trial judge in the illegal mining case involving NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, influenced the outcome of the proceedings.

In a statement issued on July 21, 2026, Mr Ashigbey described as "fabrication" reports alleging that he had expressed confidence Wontumi would be convicted because the trial judge was his sister-in-law.

"I never made that statement. It is false. I have never said, anywhere, at any time, that I was confident Wontumi will go to jail because the judge is my sister-in-law. That quote is a fabrication," he stated.

Mr Ashigbey also sought to distinguish the concluded Samreboi illegal mining case from a separate petition he filed together with legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, governance advocate Edem Senanu and Dr Kwame Asiedu.

According to him, the case in which Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay convicted Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited is entirely different from the matter they petitioned.

"The 20th July 2026 ruling of the Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (At Large), Akonta Mining Company Limited case has nothing to do with our petition," he said.

He added that the petition remains before another court and has neither been heard on its merits nor determined.

"The case that we petitioned is still pending before another court. It has not been heard on the merits, and no ruling has been given. To link our pending petition to a ruling in a different case is deliberate mischief calculated to mislead the public," he added.

Mr Ashigbey stressed that he was not a party to the concluded criminal trial and therefore could not have had any conflict of interest in the proceedings.

"Dragging judges' names and family relationships into propaganda to discredit court decisions undermines confidence in our justice system and must be condemned," he said.

Reaffirming his long-held position on illegal mining, Mr Ashigbey said he has consistently advocated since 2017 for the maximum penalties prescribed by law to be imposed on those who organise, finance and benefit from illegal mining activities.

"My position since 2017 has not changed – the 'kingpins' must be given the maximum sentence provided by law," he stated.

He urged the public to disregard what he described as false and misleading claims and instead remain focused on the broader fight against illegal mining.

The claims surfaced after the Accra High Court convicted and sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment in connection with illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession. Mr Ashigbey did not indicate whether he would pursue legal action against those responsible for circulating the claims.