The Ashanti Region Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term, has asked the High Court in Accra to order his release pending the judgement of an appeal he has filed.

The NPP Ashanti Regional chairman, through his lawyers, filed “an application for bail pending appeal.”

The application, which was signed by Wontumi’s lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, a former legislator, indicated that it was in accordance with Section 96(1) of Act 30 and Section 33(1) of Act 459.

“Take Notice that this Honourable Court will be moved by Counsel for and on behalf of the 1st Appellant/Applicant ("Applicant") herein praying the Court for an order that the Applicant, who is currently incarcerated at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, be admitted to bail pending appeal upon the grounds stated in the accompanying affidavit and for any further order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem meet,” parts of the application read.

The court document also indicated that the court would act on the matter on August 19, 2026.

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“Court to be moved on Wednesday, 19TH day of August 2026 at 9 o'clock in the forenoon or so soon thereafter as Counsel for the 1st and 3rd Appellants may be heard.”

About the case:

The Criminal Court 4 of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found Chairman Wontumi guilty on charges brought against him under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 995).

The court sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment, with all custodial terms to run concurrently. In addition, he was fined 10,000 penalty units on each of the six counts.

Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.

According to the prosecution, Chairman Wontumi unlawfully assigned mineral rights on Akonta Mining's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without the approval of the sector minister. He was also accused of facilitating unauthorised mining activities on the concession.



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