'This is a test of our unity' - NPP Ashanti Caucus on Wontumi's jail term

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Tue, 21 Jul 2026 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Ashanti Caucus of Constituency Chairmen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on all party faithful to remain calm and law-abiding following the sentencing of the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison.

According to the chairmen in a statement on July 21, 2026, they are exploring all legal avenues to ensure justice is served in relation to Wontumi’s incarceration.

“The Ashanti Caucus of Constituency Chairmen has noted with concern the conviction of our Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, handed down yesterday.

“Chairman Wontumi has been the face of resilience, grassroots mobilization, and unwavering commitment to the NPP in the Ashanti Region. Under his leadership, the party has remained formidable, united, and victory-driven. We, the Constituency Chairmen of Ashanti, wish to state the following: We stand in full solidarity with Chairman Wontumi and his family during this difficult time.

Read Wontumi's last words before being whisked away to prison

“You are not alone. Our support for Chairman Wontumi remains unshaken. We believe in his integrity, his service to the party, and his dedication to the people of Ashanti and Ghana. We call on all party faithful and supporters across the region to remain calm, law-abiding, and united. We have confidence in the legal directorate of the party and in the ability of the team to pursue all available legal options,” the statement read.

The chairmen further described Wontumi’s trial as “a test of our unity and we will pass it.”

“We appreciate the outpouring of support from party executives, MPs, and grassroots members nationwide. This is a test of our unity, and we will pass it. Chairman Wontumi’s contributions to the growth and strength of the NPP in our stronghold cannot be erased by any single judgment. “We remain resolute that truth and true justice will prevail, it is only a matter of time,” the statement added.

Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment after the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court found him guilty on all six counts brought against him.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, July 20, 2026, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ordered that the prison terms run concurrently. The court also fined Wontumi 10,000 penalty units on each of the six counts.

Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units for each count.

The convictions were secured under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 995), which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal mining-related offences.

Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Limited, and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, were prosecuted over alleged illegal mining activities on the company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

According to the prosecution, the accused unlawfully assigned mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining activities without the required authorisation, contrary to the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act.

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