Atta Akyea breaks silence on allegedly running to Mahama to seek pardon for Wontumi

Lead counsel for former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, has denied formally seeking a presidential pardon for his client, according to a report by myoyonline.com.

Atta Akyea clarified that he had not approached President John Dramani Mahama to seek clemency for Wontumi. However, he indicated that he expected the President to show mercy to his client, considering the widespread nature of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in the country.

“No, please. We didn’t do that,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, when asked whether he had sought a presidential pardon for his client.

He further explained that, given the prevalence of galamsey in Ghana, he had hoped the President would exercise discretion and show compassion in a case related to illegal mining.

“Also, when the case was galamsey-related, we thought that the President, in his own mercy, would say that, look, the nation is awash with galamsey,” he stated.

Atta Akyea argued that the President could consider the widespread nature of illegal mining and the involvement of influential individuals in the practice when dealing with cases of this nature.

He also suggested that some prominent members of the party had significant involvement in galamsey, saying:

“Even we have some evidence that serious people in the party, that is what their daily bread is all about. I will not use a galamsey-tinted criminal matter to detain a man and let him remain…”

Chairman Wontumi has been in custody at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison since his conviction in July in a case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited.

An Accra High Court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of offences related to mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. The sentences on the two counts are to run concurrently.

Wontumi has since appealed the conviction and sentence. His lawyers filed the appeal at the Court of Appeal on July 28, 2026, challenging the High Court’s decision.

AM

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