Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has confirmed that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been transferred to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction in an illegal mining case.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme on Monday, July 20, Dr. Boakye-Danquah disclosed that he had recently parted ways with Chairman Wontumi as prison authorities prepared to transport him to the correctional facility.
“I have just parted ways with him, and he is being taken to Nsawam. How did we get to this stage as a country?” he stated.
The transfer follows a ruling by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court, which convicted Chairman Wontumi over illegal mining activities on Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced the NPP regional chairman to 20 years in prison and imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Failure to pay the fine could result in an additional three-year jail term.
Reacting to the verdict, Dr. Boakye-Danquah expressed disappointment, insisting that the defence team had not expected a conviction because, in their view, the prosecution failed to establish Chairman Wontumi’s personal involvement in the alleged illegal mining activities.
“We did not expect this outcome because there was nothing presented in court that showed Chairman Wontumi was personally involved in illegal mining,” he said.
He further revealed that the defence had hoped the High Court would delay its judgment pending the determination of an application before the Supreme Court. However, the trial judge proceeded with the ruling despite their objections.
According to Dr. Boakye-Danquah, the outcome raises concerns about what he described as the possible political targeting of a prominent opposition figure.
“It is very sad. It feels like a form of political victimisation of a politically exposed individual,” he remarked.
He noted that Chairman Wontumi holds one of the most influential positions within the NPP, serving as the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman in what is widely regarded as the party’s political stronghold.
The former government spokesperson also questioned whether authorities would pursue other individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining with the same level of determination.
“If this is the direction we are taking, while we know that there are others who are actively involved in galamsey, then we will wait and see how things unfold,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Dr. Boakye-Danquah called for national unity and urged Ghanaians to remain hopeful.
“We can only hope and pray that our country can come together and find its way forward,” he added.
He also defended Chairman Wontumi’s conduct throughout the trial, emphasizing that the NPP regional chairman consistently complied with court directives and attended every hearing.
“Chairman Wontumi has been law-abiding throughout this case. There was not a single day that he failed to appear in court. We have been very cooperative with the court and followed due process,” he said.
The High Court’s ruling marks a significant development in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, with Chairman Wontumi now beginning his custodial sentence while legal and political reactions continue to unfold.
