Gomoa Central Member of Parliament, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, has taken a swipe at veteran broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi following the latter’s questioning of why illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, continues despite the imprisonment of former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, A Plus challenged what he considered a flawed argument that the imprisonment of a prominent individual should automatically translate into the elimination of an entire criminal activity.
His response was triggered by a question Sefa Kayi posed on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo programme on November 2, 2026, during an interview with Abdulai Sakara, the NDC Chairman for Krowor Constituency.
Sakara had been defending the government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining, insisting that the NDC would not shield anyone involved in the destructive activity.
However, Sefa Kayi challenged the argument, asking why galamsey continued despite Wontumi’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
“But how come that after arresting Wontumi and jailing him, galamsey hasn’t stopped?” the veteran broadcaster asked.
The question has since attracted a response from A Plus, who believes that the continued existence of galamsey cannot be used as the sole measure of whether the prosecution and punishment of an individual offender has achieved its purpose.
A PLUS’S ESCOBAR ANALOGY
Drawing parallels with international organised crime, the Gomoa Central MP invoked the notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, who was killed on December 2, 1993.
A Plus questioned whether cocaine trafficking disappeared following Escobar’s death, pointing out that despite the subsequent imprisonment of several notorious drug kingpins, including Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and leaders of the Cali Cartel, the international drug trade has continued.
He also cited figures attributed to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), indicating that approximately 2.6 million people worldwide were prosecuted for drug-related offences in 2023, while about 1.4 million were convicted.
For A Plus, these examples demonstrate that the punishment of individuals, although necessary, does not automatically dismantle the networks, structures and economic interests that sustain criminal activities.
“Don’t confuse punishing an offender with ending an entire crime,” he declared.
He further brought the argument closer to home, citing the persistent practice of commercial sex work despite repeated police arrests in East Legon, as well as the continued incidence of armed robbery following the imprisonment of notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi.
His central argument was that the arrest and imprisonment of individuals should not be mistaken for the complete eradication of the offences for which they were prosecuted.
OLD FRICTION BETWEEN A PLUS AND SEFA KAYI
The latest exchange also comes against the backdrop of a longstanding disagreement between A Plus and Sefa Kayi, which dates back several years.
In July 2024, A Plus publicly recounted an encounter with the veteran broadcaster in 2017, which he said marked the beginning of their strained relationship.
According to A Plus, Sefa Kayi had confronted him over his outspoken criticism of the then NPP administration, allegedly telling him that his persistent criticism of government officials could have attracted dangerous consequences in another country.
A Plus said the comments particularly disappointed him because the two had previously enjoyed a cordial relationship.
He also questioned what he perceived as inconsistency in the broadcaster’s approach to political commentary, arguing that Sefa Kayi appeared uncomfortable with his criticism of the NPP government while maintaining the freedom to criticise the erstwhile NDC administration.
That history has added another dimension to their latest public disagreement, with A Plus once again challenging the broadcaster’s position on a politically sensitive national issue.
THE BIGGER GALAMSEY QUESTION
Beyond the personal differences between the two personalities, however, the exchange raises a legitimate national question about the effectiveness of Ghana’s anti-galamsey campaign.
Wontumi’s imprisonment represents an important development in the prosecution of illegal mining-related offences. However, the continued destruction of water bodies and forest reserves raises questions about the broader enforcement mechanisms required to address the menace.
The challenge extends beyond politically exposed individuals to the financiers, operators, equipment suppliers, protection networks and other interests that may sustain illegal mining activities.
Indeed, if the fight against galamsey is to produce lasting results, enforcement must be consistent, intelligence-driven and applied without political discrimination.
The government must also demonstrate that its commitment to tackling illegal mining extends beyond high-profile prosecutions to the dismantling of the wider networks responsible for environmental destruction.
Ultimately, A Plus’s intervention challenges the public to distinguish between individual accountability and the broader objective of eliminating criminal activities.
His argument may not settle the debate over Sefa Kayi’s question, but it raises an important point that cannot easily be dismissed.
Pablo Escobar died, but cocaine trafficking survived. Ataa Ayi went to prison, but armed robbery did not disappear. The question, therefore, is not simply who has been jailed, but whether the structures that sustain the crime are being dismantled.
