Minority Members of Parliament on Tuesday appeared in black attire at Parliament House in protest against the conviction and 20-year prison sentence handed to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The symbolic protest comes a day after the High Court found Chairman Wontumi guilty in a case linked to illegal mining and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The NPP MPs said the gesture was to express solidarity with the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman and register their dissatisfaction with the court’s decision.
Several lawmakers maintained that they disagreed with the judgment and expressed confidence that it would be overturned through the appellate process.
The protest follows separate statements issued by the Parliamentary Minority and the NPP, both rejecting the verdict and arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the party, Chairman Wontumi lawfully acquired the mining concession in question and did not unlawfully assign or transfer any mineral rights, contrary to the trial court’s findings.
The NPP has since announced plans to appeal the conviction, describing the ruling as a miscarriage of justice and expressing confidence that the Court of Appeal will overturn the decision.
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