Tense scenes unfolded in Parliament today as Minority MPs repeatedly chanted “Release Wontumi! Release Wontumi!” during the presentation of the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The chants erupted as the House debated economic developments under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
The Minority, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), directed the slogan at the government, demanding the release of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, a key NPP figure who has been jailed for 20 years for illegal mining.
The Minority benches broke into sustained chants whenever references were made to President Mahama’s leadership and the government’s economic recovery narrative. At one point, the session was briefly disrupted as the Speaker attempted to restore order.
“Release Wontumi! President Mahama, hear us!” some Minority members were heard shouting, linking the call to broader accusations of political persecution against opposition figures.
Dr. Forson, who was presenting the government’s mid-year performance highlighting strong GDP growth, declining inflation, and debt reduction, paused briefly but continued his delivery amid the interruptions.
The Minister focused on policy achievements, including fiscal discipline, tax reforms, and infrastructure projects, but the political chants underscored the sharp partisan divide in the House.
The Minority indicated that the chants reflect growing frustration over what they describe as “selective prosecution” of opposition leaders. Chairman Wontumi has been a vocal critic of the Mahama administration, and his ongoing legal battles have become a rallying point for the NPP.
The Majority side dismissed the chants as “unnecessary distractions” from the serious business of national development, arguing that the government is focused on delivering results for Ghanaians rather than engaging in political vendettas.
The Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review presentation eventually continued after the Speaker’s intervention, with the full text expected to be captured in the Hansard.
This incident highlights the charged political atmosphere in Ghana’s Parliament even as the government presents positive macroeconomic indicators for the first half of 2026.
Wontumi jailed
The Accra High Court has sentenced Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. He was found guilty of offences related to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The landmark ruling marks one of the most significant convictions in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Wontumi unlawfully assigned mineral rights and purposely facilitated unlicensed mining operations on the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The court convicted Wontumi personally on two counts:
- Assigning mineral rights without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources.
- Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
Akonta Mining Company Limited was also convicted on corresponding corporate charges and fined by the court.
According to the judgment, police investigations began after an anti-galamsey operation at Akonta Mining’s concession in April 2025. That operation led to the arrest of 29 suspects. Officers recovered excavators, firearms, ammunition, suspected gold, vehicles and large sums of cash from the site.
