The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, has filed a motion seeking bail pending an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence.
He filed the motion on notice at the Accra High Court and the application is scheduled to be heard on August 19, 2026.
On July 20, 2026, the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, convicted and sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour for facilitating illegal mining activities on a Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
However, the Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, through his lawyers, contended that, on the face of the record, the entire trial was wrong in law.
The motion said the appeal raised genuine and substantial constitutional interpretation questions regarding Article 19(1) of the Constitution and the constitutionality of Sections 14(1), 59 and 99(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as penal legislation, of which the trial judge allegedly usurped the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in violation of Article 132(2) of the Constitution.
“The appeal challenges the learned trial judge attribution of criminal liability to The first applicant (Boasiako), notwithstanding the separate legal personality of the third applicant (Akonta Mining Company Limited. “, the first applicant said.
Boasiako said he was not a flight risk and was a responsible and law-abiding individual with deep-rooted ties within the jurisdiction.
He said he had business, family, professional and community ties within the jurisdiction and a fixed place of abode in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Boasiako said granting him bail pending the appeal would enable him to work closely with his lawyer and consult and confer with counsel.
He said his current circumstances had frustrated “lawyers client ” engagement.
Boasiako said he would not interfere with the course of justice if granted bail and was willing to comply with any conditions the Court might impose.
He further said the State would suffer “no prejudice ” if he were admitted to bail.
