Kenneth Ashigbey’s Response To False Claims On Wontomi Case

Accra, 21^st July 2026 – My attention has been drawn to a completely false publication alleging that my relationship with the trial judge in the Wontumi case influenced the ruling and further attributing to me the statement that “I was confident Wontumi will go to jail because the judge is my sister-in-law.”

I, Kenneth Ashigbey, wish to state categorically:

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.

The 20^th July 2026 ruling of the Republic Vs Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (At Large), Akonta Mining Company Limited case has nothing to do with our (Martin Kpebu, Edem Senanu, Kwame Asiedu and myself) petition.

The case that we petitioned is still pending before another court. The court has not yet considered the case, 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.

I had no direct interest in the case that was decided, and there was no conflict of interest: I was not a party to the case that was ruled on. I had no direct interest in it. In the circumstances, there could not have been any conflict-of-interest situation as is being alleged.

The judiciary must be allowed to do its work. Dragging judges’ names and family relationships into propaganda to discredit court decisions undermines confidence in our justice system and must be condemned.

My position since 2017 has not changed: the “kingpins” must be given the maximum sentence permitted by law. Since this advocacy began in 2017, my position has remained consistent, public and clearly documented.

For the past eight years, I have maintained the principled view that those who organise, finance and benefit (‘kingpins’) from illegal mining activities should be subject to the maximum sentence prescribed by law. I stand by that position without reservation.

I respectfully urge the public to disregard inaccurate claims and remain focused on the substantive issues at stake.

Kenneth Ashigbey

This post has already been read 166 times!