Accra, Ghana – The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has issued a firm disclaimer, refuting social media reports that its Deputy Commissioner, Mercy Larbi, was the High Court judge who sentenced New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison .
In a statement released on July 22, 2026, CHRAJ clarified that Mercy Larbi did not preside over the proceedings in question and played no role in the delivery of the judgment . The Commission described the publication and circulation of her photograph in connection with the sentencing as "false, misleading, and without factual basis" .
The misinformation was widely circulated on platforms including TikTok and Facebook by individuals who incorrectly identified the Deputy Commissioner as Justice Audrey Kocuvie Tay, the actual judge in the case .
CHRAJ warned that such false claims have the potential to mislead the public, undermine confidence in the administration of justice, and unjustly expose its Deputy Commissioner to reputational harm . The Commission urged the public to disregard these publications and refrain from sharing them further .
"The publication and circulation of her photograph in connection with the sentence are false, misleading, and without factual basis," the statement read, while appealing to media houses, bloggers, and content creators to verify information from credible sources before publishing .
The clarification follows the conviction of Chairman Wontumi by the High Court in Accra in connection with the Akonta Mining illegal mining case . Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay found Wontumi guilty on Counts One and Four, sentencing him to 20 years' imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count . Akonta Mining Limited was convicted on Counts Three and Six and fined 15,000 penalty units on each count .
