Deputy Director of IT and Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, says the 20-year prison sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was lenient considering the scale of environmental destruction caused by illegal mining activities.

His comments follow the Accra High Court’s conviction and sentencing of Chairman Wontumi to20 years’ imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, July 20, Mr Tanko Computer claimed that residents in affected communities continue to suffer the consequences of pollution and exposure to harmful substances used in illegal mining.

According to him, the law provides for a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 25 years for such offences, and therefore believes the court could have imposed the maximum penalty.

“If I were expecting, in fact, I was expecting about 25. He should have taken the 25. The judge was lenient to have given him the 20 years,” he stated.

He said the severity of the environmental damage and the impact on people’s lives should inform how society views the punishment handed to persons involved in illegal mining.

“People are talking about 20 years, but they are not looking at the effect of the dangers they have caused to these communities,” he added.

Mr Tanko Computer said the conviction “will serve as a deterrent to others who think that they can get away with this just because of their own parochial interest.”

He stressed that the state has a responsibility to protect citizens and must ensure that individuals who engage in activities that endanger lives and destroy natural resources are held accountable.