Atta Akyea explains why he 'swerved' Wontumi's final court appearance

Samuel Atta Akyea has explained that he was outside Ghana when the High Court sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years' imprisonment because he had travelled to the United Kingdom for his daughter's graduation.

The lead counsel for the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman said his absence was due to personal commitments and his expectation that the court would first address a constitutional matter raised by the defence before proceeding with the judgment.

"It's very unfortunate because if I should let you know how personal it was for me to join my daughter, who was graduating in the UK, I didn't see how I could have absented myself," he said on Joy FM's Top Story.

Atta Akyea said the defence had expected the constitutional issues raised in the case to be referred to the Supreme Court, which would have affected the timing of the proceedings.

"There was a constitutional matter staring the court in the face. We wanted to move that motion, and I knew that if the judge respected the hierarchy of the courts and the law, that reference should have been made," he stated.

He added that his absence should not be interpreted as abandoning his client.

"I had not left Ghana to abandon my client in that kind of predicament.

"I left Ghana because my daughter was graduating, and I needed to be there for her," he said.

#TrendingGH: Watch Ghanaians react after Wontumi is sentenced to 20 years in prison