Private legal practitioner Samuel Atta Akyea said on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, that he did not formally request a presidential pardon for his client, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, better known as Chairman Wontumi, in the galamsey‑related case.
When asked whether he had approached President John Dramani Mahama to secure clemency, Atta Akyea replied, “No, please. We didn’t do that.” He added that he had, however, expected the President might consider granting a pardon given the widespread nature of illegal mining in the country.
Atta Akyea said he believed President Mahama could take into account the scale of galamsey and the involvement of influential individuals when considering cases linked to illegal mining. “Also, when the case was galamsey‑related, we thought that the president, in his own mercy, would say that, look, the nation is awash with galamsey,” he explained.
He further indicated that he anticipated the President would be reluctant to impose a lengthy prison term in a case associated with illegal mining. “Even we have some evidence that serious people in the party— that is what their daily bread is all about. I will not use a galamsey‑tinted criminal matter to detain a man and let him remain there for 20 years. I’ll grant him pardon,” he said, describing the position he believed the President might take.
President Mahama granted presidential pardons to 863 convicted persons under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution on October 5, following consultation with the Council of State, as part of Independence Anniversary celebrations.
