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, following his conviction over illegal mining-related offences.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday, July 20, the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the NPP’s legal team had already initiated the appellate process, insisting that the conviction was unjust and unsupported by the evidence presented before the court.
“The New Patriotic Party stands firmly behind Chairman Wontumi. Our legal team has already commenced the necessary steps to challenge the judgment through the appellate process,” Mr. Kodua said.
He further described the conviction as politically motivated.
“We consider the decision of the court as amounting to political imprisonment. Indeed, Chairman Wontumi is a political prisoner,” he stated.
Mr. Kodua stressed that although the NPP respects the authority of the judiciary and the rule of law, it believes the High Court erred in its judgment and has every constitutional right to challenge the decision on appeal.
According to him, the prosecution failed to establish that Chairman Wontumi had illegally assigned or transferred his mineral concession, arguing that the court itself acknowledged that the concession had been lawfully acquired.
He maintained that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence proving the offence beyond reasonable doubt.
“The prosecution could not produce any evidence to show that Chairman Wontumi assigned his mineral rights. We believe the conviction is a travesty of justice and must be overturned on appeal,” he said.
The NPP General Secretary also accused the Mahama administration of pursuing selective justice, alleging that the government was targeting political opponents while failing to investigate allegations of illegal mining involving individuals linked to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He questioned the status of investigations into allegations against some NDC officials and MPs who have previously been accused of engaging in illegal mining, arguing that the fight against galamsey must be fair and impartial.
“Justice cannot be selective,” Mr. Kodua said. “The fight against illegal mining cannot be credible if it targets only perceived political opponents while overlooking allegations involving others.”
He further accused the government of using the prosecution to divert public attention from pressing national issues, including illegal mining, flooding, security concerns and economic challenges.
Mr. Kodua assured NPP members that the party would continue to support Chairman Wontumi throughout the legal process.
“There is no justification for the judgment. The New Patriotic Party stands firmly behind Chairman Wontumi, and our legal team has commenced the appeal process,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by an Accra High Court after being convicted on illegal mining-related charges. The NPP has indicated that it will pursue all available legal avenues to challenge the ruling.
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