On July 21,2026 at Accra, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that it will appeal the 20-year prison sentence handed to its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. They described the High Court’s decision as a ‘travesty of justice’ and insisting that the conviction was not supported by sufficient evidence.
The announcement was made shortly after the Accra High Court convicted Wontumi over illegal mining-related offences linked to Akonta Mining Limited and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment. The party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the NPP would challenge the ruling through the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the judgment was legally flawed.
Addressing journalists in Accra, Mr. Kodua stated that although the NPP respects the independence and authority of the judiciary, it has every constitutional right to disagree with a court decision and seek redress through the appellate process. He stressed that respecting the courts does not require citizens or political parties to remain silent when they believe justice has not been served.
According to the NPP, the prosecution failed to establish beyond reasonable doubt that Chairman Wontumi unlawfully assigned or transferred his mining concession. Mr. Kodua argued that it was never disputed during the trial that Wontumi legally acquired the concession. Instead, he said, the prosecution relied on assumptions and inferences rather than direct evidence to secure a conviction.
“The prosecution could not produce any evidence to show that Wontumi had assigned his mineral rights. Instead, the conviction rested on assumptions and inferences,” Mr. Kodua said, adding that the party is confident the judgment will be overturned on appeal.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, found Wontumi guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The court ruled that the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced Wontumi to two separate 20-year prison terms on the counts for which he was convicted. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 20 years in prison. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count, while Akonta Mining Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units on each of the counts against the company.
In delivering the sentence, the court cited the seriousness of illegal mining offences, the environmental destruction associated with galamsey, and the need to protect the country’s mineral resources. The judge also ordered that excavators, vehicles, cash and other items seized from the mining concession be forfeited to the State.
Despite the ruling, the NPP has reaffirmed its support for Chairman Wontumi and indicated that its legal team has already begun the appeal process. The party insists the conviction represents a miscarriage of justice and says it will exhaust every legal avenue available to challenge the judgment.
Legal analysts have noted that Wontumi has the right to appeal the conviction and may also apply for bail pending the determination of the appeal. However, legal practitioners say the success of any appeal will depend on whether the defence can demonstrate that the trial court made significant errors in law or procedure.
The case has attracted widespread national attention and renewed public debate over Ghana’s fight against illegal mining. While environmental advocates have welcomed the conviction as a strong signal that mining laws will be enforced regardless of status, the NPP maintains that the appellate court will ultimately correct what it describes as an unjust decision.
SEIDU HUBEIDATU