Politics of 2026-10-15

Chairman Wontumi heads to court to seek bail from Nsawam prison custody

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will appear before the Accra High Court today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, as his legal team pushes for his release on bail pending an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence. The former NPP regional chairman is seeking temporary freedom as he challenges his conviction over illegal mining-related offences involving a mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region, according to a myjoyonline.com report on October 15, 2026. His lawyers filed the bail application in August, hoping to secure his release from prison while the appeal against his conviction and sentence is being determined. The application was initially expected to be heard on August 19, 2026, but the proceedings could not take place following the absence of Chairman Wontumi and his lead lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea. Following their failure to appear, the court clerk informed the parties that the judge handling the case would not be available for the rest of that week, leading to the postponement of the hearing. The case was subsequently rescheduled for October 15, 2026, giving the defence team another opportunity to convince the court to grant their client bail. However, the application faces opposition from the Attorney-General, who has raised concerns that Chairman Wontumi could flee the country if released from custody. 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. Dr Kwame Nkrumah's son is dead - Report 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 Inside Ghana’s Abandoned Engineering Powerhouse: What Went Wrong?