Accra: Ghanaian boxer and entertainer Bukom Banku has defended President John Dramani Mahama against claims linking him to the 20-year jail sentence handed to Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
According to Ghana Web, Bukom Banku emphasized that President Mahama should not be blamed for the legal troubles of Chairman Wontumi because the president is neither a judge nor a lawyer responsible for delivering court judgments. Bukom Banku articulated his stance in a video shared on social media on July 23, 2026, stating that individuals who acquire wealth through illegal means or engage in unlawful activities should anticipate facing the full force of the law.
In his statement, Bukom Banku accused Chairman Wontumi of engaging in illegal mining activities that allegedly resulted in the destruction of water bodies. He also questioned the whereabouts of money linked to Wontumi, thereby underscoring the legal basis of the 20-year sentence.
He further stated, "President Mahama is not a judge or a lawyer. Chairman Wontumi, the river that he spoilt and the money he collected, there's no pay. It's not John Mahama who jailed Wontumi," expressing his thoughts in his usual conversational style.
Bukom Banku reiterated that the judicial process, rather than the president, is responsible for the sentencing. He stated, "As they've jailed him for 20 years, Mahama is not the judge who jailed him; he's rather the President of Ghana. Mahama does the right things, and anyone who spends money that's not legal will face the law. The law will deal with you when you go against it."
He concluded by urging people to stop blaming President Mahama for Chairman Wontumi's conviction, emphasizing that the sentence was a result of Wontumi's own illegal mining activities.