The legal battle involving Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has entered a dramatic new phase after his lawyers filed an appeal challenging his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was convicted by the Accra High Court in connection with illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The court found Wontumi guilty of unlawfully assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations. He received 20-year sentences on two counts, which are to run concurrently.

However, his legal team is refusing to accept the judgment as the final word.
The appeal reportedly raises several alleged legal errors in the trial court’s decision. Wontumi’s lawyers are expected to challenge the court’s interpretation of the mining laws, its assessment of the prosecution’s evidence and its handling of constitutional issues raised during the proceedings.
Before the judgment was delivered, the defence had asked the High Court to refer certain provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation. The application was dismissed, allowing the court to proceed with its verdict.

Wontumi’s legal team maintains that the conviction cannot be supported by the evidence presented during the trial. The appeal will seek to have both the guilty verdict and the lengthy custodial sentence overturned.

The NPP has also declared its full support for Wontumi, describing the ruling as a miscarriage of justice. Party leaders have promised to pursue every lawful avenue available while urging supporters to remain peaceful as the appellate process unfolds.

The filing does not automatically cancel Wontumi’s conviction or release him from prison. His lawyers may separately apply for bail pending the determination of the appeal.
With the case now heading to the appellate court, attention will turn to whether the judges will uphold the High Court’s ruling, reduce the sentence or overturn the conviction entirely. The outcome could have major legal and political consequences for Wontumi and the NPP.