加纳反对党新爱国党(NPP)地区主席伯纳德·安特维·博阿西亚科因非法采矿罪被判处20年监禁并处以超过1万美元罚款[1]。判决于周一在首都阿克拉法庭宣布[1]。博阿西亚科成为2017年打击非法采矿行动启动以来第一位被定罪的加纳高级政治人物[1]。
根据控方指控，博阿西亚科通过其公司阿空塔矿业公司允许亨利·奥库姆和迈克尔·盖杜·艾伊西在未获矿产与自然资源部长批准的情况下进行采矿活动[1]。
判决在加纳引发激烈反应。NPP总书记贾斯汀·科杜亚·弗林庞表示："对非法采矿的打击只有在针对不存在有力证据的政治对手时，才会变得不可信"[1]，该党已启动上诉程序。与此同时，环保组织亚蒂凯中心执行主任阿迪布·萨阿尼欢迎这一判决，表示"这向明确发出信号，问责制对加纳保护森林、河流和其他自然资源是不可或缺的"[1]。
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a regional chairman of Ghana's opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined over $10,000 (£7,450) for illegal mining [1]. The verdict was delivered on Monday by a court in Accra, the capital [1].
Boasiako is the first senior Ghanaian politician to be convicted of illegal mining since the country began cracking down on the practice in 2017 [1]. He was accused of permitting unauthorized mining activities through his company Akonta Mining, which allowed Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to conduct mining operations without approval from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources [1].
The ruling has sparked starkly divergent reactions. The NPP has denounced the decision as politically motivated and launched an appeal [1]. According to NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, "the fight against illegal mining loses its credibility only when it is targeted at political opponents without strong evidence" [1].
Environmental advocates, however, have welcomed the conviction. Adib Saani, Executive Director of environmental organization Jatikay Centre, stated: "This sends a clear signal that accountability is indispensable for Ghana to protect its forests, rivers and other natural resources" [1].