By Nadia Ntiamoah
Fresh controversy has erupted over the conviction and 20-year prison sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after one of the prosecution witnesses alleged that the incarcerated regional party chairman was imprisoned because of his political comments against President John Dramani Mahama rather than his alleged role in illegal mining.
The latest claims come in the wake of the July 20, 2026 judgment by the Accra High Court, which convicted Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited over offences relating to the unauthorised assignment of mineral rights and facilitating illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The court sentenced Wontumi to two concurrent 20-year prison terms, imposed a fine of GH¢120,000, and also fined his company after finding him guilty on multiple counts.
Since the judgment, the case has generated intense political and legal debate, with the NPP describing the verdict as a miscarriage of justice while filing an appeal at the Court of Appeal on more than 20 grounds.
The party has also declared Wontumi a “political prisoner” and accused the government of selectively prosecuting political opponents.
Adding another twist to the controversy, Edward Akuoko, identified as the Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited and the third accused person who later testified for the prosecution, has publicly claimed that Wontumi’s imprisonment was politically motivated.
Speaking in an interview, Akuoko suggested that he was not surprised by the outcome of the case because, in his view, Chairman Wontumi had become a target following public statements he made against President Mahama.
According to him, he believed the prosecution was influenced by Wontumi’s political utterances rather than allegations of illegal mining.
Akuoko alleged that events leading to the prosecution appeared to him to have been driven by politics, claiming that Wontumi had openly criticised the President during previous media appearances and that those remarks ultimately worked against him.
He insisted that his personal impression was that the conviction was linked to those political comments.
Despite making those allegations, Akuoko also emphasised during the interview that anyone entrusted with public office or public resources must be prepared to account for their stewardship before the law.
He argued that public officials cannot claim persecution merely because investigations are initiated against them.According to him, if evidence establishes wrongdoing, every public office holder, regardless of political affiliation, should face the legal process.
He stressed that the courts would only convict where sufficient evidence exists and noted that competent legal representation remains critical in criminal proceedings.
Akuoko further advised the NPP to continue supporting Chairman Wontumi through the legal process while ensuring he receives strong legal representation during the appeal.
He suggested that effective lawyers could make a significant difference in the outcome of criminal litigation.The comments have emerged at a time when Chairman Wontumi’s legal team, led by former Abuakwa South MP Samuel Atta Akyea, has already filed an appeal challenging both the conviction and sentence.
The defence argues, among other things, that the conviction was unsupported by the evidence, that the trial court misapplied provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, improperly relied on circumstantial evidence, wrongly lifted the corporate veil of Akonta Mining, and imposed an excessive custodial sentence.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General has consistently maintained that the prosecution was based solely on evidence gathered during investigations and not on political considerations.
The trial court also held that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Chairman Wontumi permitted mining activities on the concession without obtaining the mandatory ministerial approval required under Ghana’s mining laws.
The claims made by Edward Akuoko represent his personal views expressed during the interview and have not been independently verified or adopted by the court. Neither the Presidency nor the Attorney-General’s Office has publicly responded to the allegations that the prosecution was politically motivated.
