Some leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region have expressed outrage over the 20-year prison sentence handed to the party’s Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
They described the sentence as excessive, unjust and politically motivated.
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, convicted and sentenced Mr Antwi-Boasiako over illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Company’s Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The ruling has triggered strong reactions within the NPP, with party executives calling for calm while indicating their intention to explore all available legal avenues to challenge the decision.
Speaking in an interview with Adom News, former Bosomtwe NPP Chairman and a relative of Chairman Wontumi, Aikens Addai-Poku, said he was shocked by the judgment.
“I am shocked by the news, and I don’t even know what to say. Chairman Wontumi does not deserve that jail term. Tell me, what did he do to deserve two decades of imprisonment?” he asked.
Mr Addai-Poku alleged that the sentence was part of a broader attempt to target opposition figures.
“To me, this is political witch-hunting against members of the opposition. The NDC is using the courts to silence us,” he claimed.
He further accused some members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of engaging in illegal mining activities and alleged that authorities had failed to take action against them.
“I am saying that Wontumi has been sentenced for nothing. The NDC are the ones engaged in galamsey, and they are doing it on a larger scale. They are operating in my constituency. Go and see for yourself the extent of their illegal mining activities,” he alleged.
Despite his concerns, Mr Addai-Poku said Chairman Wontumi’s legal team and the NPP leadership would work together to determine the next steps.
The Ashanti Regional Treasurer of the NPP, Hajia Zainab Sallow, also expressed disappointment over the ruling.
She said she was yet to obtain the full details of the judgment and, as a non-lawyer, could not comment extensively on the legal issues. However, she expressed confidence in the party’s leadership and legal team.
“I believe the national leadership and our legal counsel will do everything possible to secure the freedom of our regional chairman. We will not abandon him,” she said.
Meanwhile, an aspiring NPP Ashanti Regional Communications Director, Kyei Bobbie, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to consider granting a presidential pardon to Chairman Wontumi.
In a statement, Mr Bobbie argued that the sentence was too harsh and could deepen political tensions in the country.
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