Chairman Wontumi apologises to President Mahama and First Lady

Chairman Wontumi has apologised to President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama for remarks he made during the 2024 election campaign, according to his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah.

The apology was conveyed as part of an appeal for the President to consider exercising his prerogative of mercy following Wontumi's conviction and 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining.

Speaking on Citi FM, Dr Boakye-Danquah said the apology was intended as a gesture of reconciliation.

"The first call is to render an apology, and I think that is important. The former Chairman extends his apology to the President if, at any stage, the conversations went overboard, which was never intended," he said.

He added that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission that political differences influenced the court proceedings that resulted in Wontumi's conviction.

"Not at all. We are aware that, in this country, there are influences. If we are able to identify those influences and begin making amends, I think we will build a better society for all of us to live in," he said.