The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the John Mahama administration of engaging in "selective prosecution" following the conviction and 20-year prison sentence handed to its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, July 20, the party's General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong alleged that while the government has aggressively pursued political opponents, it has failed to act against individuals within its own ranks who have been publicly linked to illegal mining activities.

According to him, the conviction of Chairman Wontumi should not be presented as evidence of the government's commitment to tackling illegal mining, insisting that allegations involving some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) remain unresolved.

"Today, the John Mahama-led NDC government may seek to celebrate this conviction as evidence of its commitment to the fight against illegal mining… We reject that narrative entirely," he said.

Mr Kodua argued that the government was attempting to use Wontumi's conviction as a "trophy" to deflect attention from what it described as its failure to deal with illegal mining involving individuals associated with the governing party.

"They think the conviction of Chairman Wontumi will be the trophy to appease the Ghanaian people for such failure. This is no trophy," he stated.

The opposition party further questioned what action had been taken against persons President Mahama had previously acknowledged were involved in illegal mining.

It also cited petitions submitted to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and allegations involving some NDC officials and Members of Parliament, asking why those cases had not received the same level of attention.

"What has become of the petition submitted to EOCO seeking an investigation into allegations concerning Mr Joseph Yamin and Abanga Yakubu? What happened to the allegations involving the Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South and the Member of Parliament for Aowin?" he queried.

The NPP maintained that the fight against illegal mining would only be credible if the law was applied equally to all persons, regardless of their political affiliation.

"Justice cannot be selective. The fight against illegal mining cannot become credible only when it targets political opponents while overlooking allegations involving others, especially from the President's own party," he said.

The party also rejected the legal basis of Chairman Wontumi's conviction, arguing that the prosecution failed to produce evidence that he unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral rights.

His accusation follows Accra High Court sentencing of Chairman Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

Meanwhile, the NPP has indicated that it will challenge the judgment through the appellate process.