Wontumi conviction is 'no trophy' for government - NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Mahama administration of attempting to use the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as a political “trophy” to appease Ghanaians over what it describes as the government’s failures.

In a statement dated July 20, 2026, the party argued that the conviction should not be celebrated as evidence of the government’s commitment to fighting illegal mining, insisting that similar allegations involving persons linked to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have not received the same level of attention.

“They think that the conviction of Chairman Wontumi will be the trophy to appease the Ghanaian people for such failure. This is no trophy,” the NPP stated.

The party further alleged that justice was being applied selectively, questioning why investigations into alleged illegal mining activities involving some NDC officials had not progressed with the same urgency.

According to the NPP, the prosecution failed to provide evidence that Wontumi had unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral concession, arguing that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

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“It is our considered view that Chairman Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence at all to support a conviction in respect of the offence for which he has been convicted,” the party stated.

The party described the judgment as a “travesty of justice” and announced that its legal team had begun the process of appealing the High Court’s decision.

The NPP also reaffirmed its support for Chairman Wontumi, maintaining that he had been wrongfully convicted and describing him as a “political prisoner.”

The opposition party further questioned what it described as selective enforcement of the law, arguing that allegations of illegal mining involving individuals associated with the NDC had not been pursued with the same level of urgency.

“The fight against illegal mining cannot become credible only when it targets political opponents while overlooking allegations involving others, especially from the President’s own party,” the statement added.

MRA/MA

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