By Daniel Bampoe
Akuapem North Member of Parliament, Sammi Awuku, has strongly criticised the conviction and 20-year prison sentence imposed on New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, arguing that the judgment raises serious concerns about the criminal justice system.
In a public statement following the High Court’s decision, the former National Organiser of the NPP maintained that Chairman Wontumi was not convicted for engaging in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, but for allegedly assigning his mineral rights to a third party without lawful authority.
According to Mr. Awuku, a careful reading of the court’s judgment shows that the conviction was based on allegations that Chairman Wontumi unlawfully transferred or assigned his mineral rights to another party to undertake mining activities on his concession.
He contended that despite the seriousness of the charge, the prosecution failed to present any evidence proving that such an assignment had taken place.
“For the records and from the judgment, Chairman Wontumi was not jailed for his involvement in galamsey but for allegedly assigning his mineral rights to a third party to mine on his concession, when the State presented absolutely no evidence of such assignment,” he stated.
The lawmaker described the 20-year custodial sentence handed down by the High Court as a “travesty of justice” and said the ruling represents a troubling moment for the criminal justice system.
He argued that sentencing an individual to such a lengthy prison term without what he believes to be sufficient evidence sets a worrying precedent and is likely to fuel public debate about fairness, due process and the administration of justice.
Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited were convicted by the Accra High Court on two counts each under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The prosecution accused the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman of unlawfully assigning mineral rights connected to the Samreboi mining concession, among other offences.
The court subsequently imposed a 20-year prison sentence on him, a decision that has generated widespread political and legal reactions across the country.
Since the judgment was delivered, several senior figures within the New Patriotic Party have criticised the outcome and signalled their intention to challenge the conviction through the appellate courts.
The Parliamentary Minority has also questioned aspects of the proceedings, including the alleged denial of Chairman Wontumi’s counsel of choice and the trial court’s refusal to refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court, arguing that those issues may have affected the fairness of the trial.
Despite expressing disappointment over the verdict, SammiAwuku sought to rally members of the opposition party, expressing confidence that the NPP would overcome the setback.
He noted that the party has historically emerged stronger after periods of political adversity and urged supporters not to lose hope.
“The future is indeed pregnant,” he wrote. “We have always, as a party, emerged stronger when we seem to have been written off. The resilience of the elephant has never been in doubt. We are the NPP and we are irrepressible.”
The conviction of Chairman Wontumi is expected to remain one of the country’s most closely watched legal and political cases, with appeals anticipated as the defence seeks to overturn both the conviction and the sentence imposed by the High Court.
