New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has visited the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison following his conviction in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case.
The visit, which took place on Wednesday, July 22, came two days after Wontumi was convicted and sentenced by the High Court in Accra.
According to Dr Bawumia’s spokesperson, Akbar Yussif Khomeini, the visit was part of the NPP’s response to the court’s decision, which the party believes was unjust.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Khomeini said Dr Bawumia considered it necessary to personally meet Wontumi because of his position as the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman and to assure him of the NPP’s support.
“The matter involved his party’s Regional Chairman, so it was only appropriate that he organises the machinery of the party, first of all, to publicly respond to the judgment of the High Court and to mobilise the best legal brains in the party to support the lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, to mount an appeal against the conviction,” he said.
He added that Dr Bawumia used the opportunity to encourage Wontumi and assure him that the party would explore all lawful avenues to challenge the ruling.
“He took advantage of the opportunity to encourage him to stay strong and to be aware that the whole party is solidly behind him and that the party will do everything lawful to ensure that he gets out of this situation,” Khomeini stated.
According to the spokesperson, Wontumi remained confident during the meeting and maintained that he had not engaged in illegal mining activities.
“He maintained that he’s never engaged in galamsey… and he’s confident that at the end of the day, he would be exonerated,” Khomeini said.
Khomeini also disclosed that Wontumi’s legal team had prepared a notice of appeal outlining about 20 grounds to challenge the conviction.
He said lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea, who was expected back in Ghana on Wednesday night, would proceed with filing the appeal.
Wontumi was convicted by the High Court in Accra on Monday, July 20, and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on each count, while Akonta Mining Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units after being convicted on two counts in the same case.
Before delivering its judgment, the court dismissed a defence application seeking to refer constitutional issues raised in the case to the Supreme Court for interpretation.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application lacked merit and proceeded to deliver judgment.
Following the ruling, Samuel Atta Akyea criticised the decision and confirmed that the defence team would appeal the conviction.
