Kenneth Ashigbey Denies False Claim On Wontumi Case

Story by Fada Amakye

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, has denied claims that his relationship with a trial judge influenced the ruling in the Wontumi case.

In a statement issued to the media, Dr. Ashigbey described the publication as “completely false. The false claim alleged that he said: _“I was confident Wontumi will go to jail because the judge is my sister-in-law.

“I never made that statement. It is false,” Dr. Ashigbey stated. “That quote is a fabrication. He clarified that the 20th July 2026 ruling in _The Republic Vs Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi [At Large], Akonta Mining Company Limited_ has nothing to do with the petition he filed with Martin Kpebu, Edem Senanu and Kwame Asiedu.

“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,” he said. “To link our pending petition to a ruling in a different case is deliberate mischief calculated to mislead the public.

Dr. Ashigbey added that he had no direct interest in the case that was decided, and therefore there was no conflict of interest.

He condemned attempts to drag judges’ names and family relationships into propaganda to discredit court decisions.

The judiciary must be allowed to do its work. Dragging judges’ names and family relationships into propaganda undermines confidence in our justice system and must be condemned,” he said.

Dr. Ashigbey reiterated his stance since 2017 that “kingpins” behind illegal mining must face the maximum sentence provided by law.

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

He urged the public to disregard the inaccurate claims and remain focused on the substantive issues.