The 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 jail term after being convicted over illegal mining activities.
The development was confirmed by former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, during an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Monday, July 20, 2026.
“I have just parted ways with him, and he is being taken to Nsawam. How did we get to this stage as a country?” Dr Boakye-Danquah said.
The transfer follows a ruling by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court, which sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years in prison for his involvement in illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Presiding Judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional three-year prison sentence.
Reacting to the verdict, Dr Boakye-Danquah said the defence team was shocked by the decision, arguing that the evidence presented during the trial did not prove Chairman Wontumi’s personal involvement in illegal mining.
According to him, the legal team remained confident throughout the trial that the evidence would favour their client.
He further explained that the defence had expected the court to consider a pending application before the Supreme Court before delivering its judgment.
“We were therefore very hopeful that, considering the application that was filed at the Supreme Court, Her Ladyship would take her time to consider the matter. Unfortunately, she did not agree with our position and went ahead to deliver her judgement,” he stated.
Dr Boakye-Danquah described the conviction as disappointing and suggested that the case could be perceived as political victimisation because of Chairman Wontumi’s position within the opposition NPP.
“It is very sad. It feels like a form of political victimisation of a politically exposed individual,” he said.
He questioned whether similar actions would be taken against other individuals accused of engaging in illegal mining activities.
“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 added.
Despite his concerns, Dr Boakye-Danquah expressed hope that the country would remain united and respect the judicial process.
He also defended Chairman Wontumi’s conduct during the trial, noting that the NPP chairman attended all court proceedings and cooperated fully with the legal process.
“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.
