Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed an application at the High Court seeking bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.
The application, filed on August 5, 2026, states that Wontumi, who is the first appellant, is currently serving his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea of Zoe, Akyea & Co., filed the Notice of Motion under Section 96(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), and Section 33(1) of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459).
In the application, Wontumi is asking the court to grant him bail while his appeal is pending, based on grounds contained in a supporting affidavit.
The case, titled The Republic v. Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (at large), and Akonta Mining Company Limited, lists Wontumi as the first appellant/applicant, with Akonta Mining Company Limited named as the third appellant.
The application has been scheduled for hearing before Criminal Division 4 of the High Court in Accra on August 19, 2026.
Copies of the application have been served on the Office of the Attorney-General, which is the respondent in the matter, as well as the Director of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
The High Court will determine whether Wontumi should be granted bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after Criminal Court 4 of the High Court found him guilty on all six charges brought against him.
He, together with Akonta Mining Company Limited and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, who remains at large, was prosecuted over illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
According to the prosecution, the accused unlawfully assigned mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining operations without the required authorisation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act.
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