BY DANIEL BAMPOE
The legal battle involving former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, enters another critical phase today, Thursday, October 15, 2026, as the Accra High Court is expected to hear his application for bail pending appeal against his 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining-related offences.
Wontumi’s legal team is seeking his release from custody while the appellate process continues, arguing through its application that he should be allowed to remain out of prison pending the determination of his appeal.
The application follows his conviction over offences connected to mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region, a case that has attracted considerable public and political attention.
The hearing was initially scheduled for August 19, 2026, but could not proceed as planned. The matter was subsequently adjourned after the court was unable to hear the application, with the unavailability of the presiding judge contributing to the postponement. The case was then rescheduled to October 15, following the legal vacation period.
The application places Wontumi’s legal team in a fresh contest with the Attorney-General’s Office, which has opposed his request for bail.
The prosecution is reported to have argued that the former regional chairman poses a flight risk, an objection the court will have to consider alongside the defence’s submissions.
The High Court’s decision will be significant for Wontumi, who is currently serving a 20-year custodial sentence imposed in the separate mining case.
If bail is granted, he could be released from custody subject to any conditions imposed by the court while his appeal proceeds. If the application is refused, he will remain incarcerated while pursuing the appeal through the established legal process
The bail proceedings follow a series of legal challenges mounted by Wontumi’s lawyers since his conviction. His defence has continued to pursue legal remedies aimed at challenging the outcome of the mining trial, while the prosecution maintains its opposition to his release.
The Samreboi case centres on allegations involving mining activities and the legal requirements governing mineral rights and authorisation. Wontumi was convicted by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay and sentenced to an effective 20 years in prison, with the sentences on the separate counts running concurrently.
Today’s hearing is expected to focus on arguments from both the defence and the Attorney-General’s Office before the court determines whether Wontumi should be granted bail pending appeal.
The hearing itself does not guarantee his release, as the final decision rests with the court.
