NPP holds emergency meeting over Wontumi's 20-year sentence

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that its leadership, alongside the party’s Flagbearer and legal team, is holding an emergency meeting to review the July 20, 2026, court judgment involving Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Samreboi mining case.

In a statement released on July 20, 2026, General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the party is thoroughly examining the ruling and will determine the appropriate next steps.

“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), together with our Flagbearer and the Party’s legal team, is currently in a meeting to thoroughly review the judgement delivered by the Court in the case involving our Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, concerning the Samreboi mining matter, and to determine the appropriate next course of action,” the statement read.

The party indicated it will communicate its official position and decisions arising from the deliberations in due course.

Kodua Frimpong urged party members to remain calm and united amid the development.

“In the meantime, I respectfully urge all members of our great Party to rally behind the leadership during this challenging moment. Let us remain calm, united, disciplined, and steadfast in our commitment to the values and interests of the New Patriotic Party,” he said.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ruled against Chairman Wontumi on all charges.

The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition, the court fined Wontumi 10,000 penalty units for each count.

@theghanaweb "All we can do is consult our client, determine the way forward, and we will certainly come out." A member of Chairman Wontumi's legal team, Enoch Anhwere Afoakwah, has described the court's decision as "mind-boggling" and "unfair" after Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) was found guilty on all six charges in the Samreboi illegal mining case. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been found guilty by an Accra High Court in the Samreboi illegal mining case. He was convicted on all six counts. His lawyers are currently pleading for mitigation, arguing that a prison sentence of between 15 and 25 years would be excessive. #ghanaweb #ghanawebtv ♬ original sound - GhanaWeb