The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has rejected the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, describing the High Court’s judgment as a “travesty of justice” and vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said although the NPP respected the authority of the judiciary, it strongly disagreed with the decision, insisting that the conviction was not supported by evidence.
“We respect the authority of our courts, but respect for the judiciary does not require silence in the face of a judgment that is fundamentally flawed,” Mr. Frimpong stated, adding that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to seek redress through the appellate process.
According to the NPP, it was never disputed during the trial that Chairman Wontumi had lawfully acquired his mineral concession. The party argued that the prosecution failed to produce evidence showing that he had unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral rights, insisting that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr. Frimpong maintained that the party was confident the judgment would be overturned on appeal.
Beyond the court ruling, the NPP accused the John Mahama-led administration of engaging in selective justice by allegedly targeting political opponents while failing to act against individuals within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) who have been linked to illegal mining.
The party rejected any suggestion that Chairman Wontumi’s conviction demonstrated the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining, arguing instead that it was an attempt to divert public attention from unresolved allegations involving some NDC officials.
The NPP further questioned the status of investigations into allegations against several individuals associated with the governing party, including petitions submitted to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), arguing that justice must be applied fairly and without political considerations.
The party also criticised the government’s handling of broader national challenges, including illegal mining, recent flooding, security concerns and the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region, saying Ghanaians expected leadership focused on addressing those issues rather than what it described as politically motivated prosecutions.
Reaffirming the party’s support for its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Frimpong announced that the NPP’s legal team had already begun the process of appealing the judgment.
“The Party stands firmly with him,” he said, adding that the NPP considers Chairman Wontumi “a political prisoner.”
