Watch how Dr Palgrave shed tears after Wontumi's sentencing

A trending video circulating on social media has sparked widespread reactions following the conviction of the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison with hard labour.

Earlier on Monday, July 20, 2026, an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Chairman Wontumi to two concurrent 20-year prison terms and imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000.

Justice Kocuvie-Tay noted in her ruling that if Chairman Wontumi fails to pay the fine, he will serve an additional three-year custodial sentence.

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Following the ruling, former government spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, was seen shedding uncontrollable tears.

In a video lasting less than one minute that has been shared online, Dr Boakye-Danquah, dressed in a black suit, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a black tie, appeared visibly emotional as he broke down in tears.

The video has triggered massive reactions online, with many netizens sharing mixed views on Chairman Wontumi’s jail sentence.

Background

Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after an Accra High Court found him guilty on all six counts in the Samreboi illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited.

Although the court imposed two separate 20-year prison terms, they are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve an effective 20-year sentence.

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He was also fined GH¢120,000, with a default three-year prison term if the fine is not paid, while Akonta Mining Company Limited was fined GH¢180,000.

The court further ordered the confiscation of excavators, water pumps, firearms, and GH¢157,000 in cash seized during investigations, with the judge citing the severe environmental damage caused by the illegal mining activities as a key factor in determining the sentence.

Watch the video below:

First time seeing a lawyer cry,ORAL is at work🇬🇭🙏. pic.twitter.com/tyiec2s2ai

— 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚑 𝙸𝚋𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚣🇬🇭 (@MusahShiraz1) July 20, 2026