Asiedu Nketiah Reacts to Wontumi’s Jail Term, Shares Cheeky Reason for His Sympath

National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has expressed his regret over the 20-year prison sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. However, his reasons for this regret might not be what you expect.

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Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said, "I am pained by the 20-year prison sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, but not for reasons that might be expected." He explained that his only regret is that the conviction has effectively closed the door on Wontumi's prospects of contesting for the NPP national chairmanship, a contest he believed the NDC would have benefited from.

The conviction was handed down by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Court 4 of the High Court, who found Chairman Wontumi guilty on charges brought 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 running concurrently. He was additionally fined 10,000 penalty units on each of the six counts against him.

Speaking in an interview on Ambassadors TV on August 1, 2026, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah argued that by rallying behind the convicted chairman, the party was undermining its own credibility, particularly on the issue of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, and the destruction of water bodies. He said, "By rallying behind the convicted chairman, the party was undermining its own credibility, particularly on the issue of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, and the destruction of water bodies." This statement highlights the significance of the party's actions in this case.

The appeal, which contains more than 20 grounds of challenge, targets both the conviction handed down by the trial court and the severity of the sentence imposed on July 20, 2026. Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Antwi-Boasiako, filed a Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, eight days after his client was sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour. The outcome of this appeal will be crucial in determining Wontumi's fate.