Leading member and operative of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) James Agbey has urged President John Dramani Mahama to exercise caution over calls for presidential clemency for convicted businessman and New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Agbey said recent public appeals for clemency, particularly an apology reportedly conveyed by Wontumi’s spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, should not be allowed to undermine due process.

Dr Boakye-Danquah recently appealed to President Mahama to forgive Wontumi over comments he allegedly made about the President’s wife and children in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

Responding to the development in a public statement issued on Wednesday, July 29, Agbey described the clemency campaign as premature, arguing that Wontumi had not yet served a significant portion of his sentence.

He, however, acknowledged that presidential clemency remained a constitutional possibility, but maintained that any consideration should be based on the same standards applied to other prisoners.

“Anyone seeking presidential clemency should be subjected to the same legal standards as every other prisoner, including serving the required portion of their sentence before being considered,” he said.

Agbey also rejected suggestions that Wontumi should be considered a political prisoner, stressing that the conviction was the outcome of a judicial process rather than an action by President Mahama.

He said the President should therefore allow the legal process to take its course before considering any request for clemency.

The NDC operative further argued that Wontumi should not receive preferential treatment because of his political status, particularly in view of the government's efforts to combat illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

According to him, several other individuals have been convicted and are serving sentences for offences linked to illegal mining, and any decision on clemency should take into account the principle of equal treatment.

Agbey also referenced previous administrations, citing former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s handling of corruption-related convictions and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s approach to similar cases.

He urged President Mahama not to allow political pressure to influence the handling of the Wontumi case and instead ensure that any decision on clemency is consistent with established legal and constitutional procedures.

“President Mahama must not be stampeded to truncate the due process in the Wontumi case,” Agbey said.