Kofi Tonto, a Spokesperson for former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has accused the Mahama administration of failing to prosecute government appointees allegedly involved in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Speaking on TV3, Kofi Tonto referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s acknowledgement that some of his own appointees were engaged in illegal mining activities.

"There is evidence of government appointees doing galamsey," he said. 

"The president himself has admitted it. There's no denial of that."

He alleged that despite this admission, no action has been taken against the unnamed officials.

"All of these people have been overlooked," he claimed.

Mr Tonto also questioned why those officials had not been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour just as in the case of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard "Wontumi" Antwi-Boasiako. 

He described Wontumi, in this light, as a "political prisoner”.

"A president who promised to fight galamsey has admitted his own officials are doing galamsey," he said. 

"As we speak, not a single one of them is being prosecuted."

The government has consistently stated its commitment to tackling illegal mining and has maintained that no individual found to have breached the law will be shielded from prosecution.