Lawyers for convicted Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have filed an application at the High Court seeking bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.
The application, filed by his legal team led by former Abuakwa South MP Samuel Atta Akyea on Thursday, August 6, 2026, is expected to be heard on August 19, when the court will decide whether Wontumi should be released from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison while his appeal is pending.
Chairman Wontumi is seeking to be released from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison while the court considers his appeal against the judgment that found him guilty of unlawfully assigning Akonta Mining’s mineral concessions to a third party without the approval of the sector minister.
In the application, his lawyers argue that the appeal raises “substantial, serious and arguable questions of law and fact” with a strong likelihood of success.
They contend that the trial was marred by significant legal errors and that the judge improperly determined constitutional issues that fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
The legal team further maintains that the trial court failed to properly interpret relevant provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, insisting those sections support the innocence of Wontumi and his company.
They also challenge the decision to hold him personally criminally liable, arguing it disregarded the company’s separate legal personality.
According to the affidavit supporting the application, Wontumi complied with all bail conditions throughout the trial, attended every court sitting, did not interfere with witnesses and has no intention of absconding.
His lawyers further argue that he is not a flight risk because of his strong family, business and community ties in Ghana, and that his continued detention is hampering preparations for the appeal. They also told the court that credible individuals are prepared to stand as sureties should bail be granted.
The application concludes that granting bail would not prejudice the prosecution, while keeping Wontumi in prison could cause him “grave and irreversible prejudice” if his appeal ultimately succeeds.
On July 20, 2026, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment after convicting him of unlawfully assigning Akonta Mining’s mineral concessions without ministerial approval.
The court also imposed fines totalling GH¢300,000—GH¢120,000 on Wontumi and GH¢180,000 on the company. Dissatisfied with the ruling, he subsequently filed an appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.
