Bawumia Leads NPP Delegation to Ashanti Regional Office for Meeting on Wontumi Conviction

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) 2028 flagbearer, led a high-powered delegation of party officials to the NPP Ashanti Regional Office in Asokwa on Wednesday, July 22, for a closed-door meeting following the conviction of the party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. The meeting comes after Bawumia visited Wontumi at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, where he is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Background

The meeting was attended by former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Akuapem North MP Sammi Awuku, Effiduase-Asokore MP Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, and several Members of Parliament from the Ashanti Region. The party has maintained that Wontumi's conviction is politically motivated and has pledged to challenge the ruling through the courts. The NPP has described the judgment as unjust and has instructed its legal team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, to file an appeal against the conviction.

The High Court in Accra convicted Wontumi on Monday, July 20, and sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment on each of two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on each count. Akonta Mining Limited, which stood trial alongside Wontumi, was convicted on two counts and fined 15,000 penalty units.

What This Means

The NPP's response to the conviction is a clear indication of the party's stance on the matter. The visit to Wontumi in prison and the subsequent meeting at the Ashanti Regional Office are part of the party's efforts to address the implications of the conviction. The party has maintained that the conviction is politically motivated and has pledged to challenge the ruling through the courts.

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The conviction of Wontumi has sparked a lot of interest in the party and has raised questions about the fairness of the judgment. The NPP has described the judgment as unjust and has instructed its legal team to file an appeal against the conviction. The party's stance on the matter is clear, and it remains to be seen how the courts will rule on the appeal.

What Happens Next

The meeting at the Ashanti Regional Office is expected to deliberate on the implications of Wontumi's conviction, its impact on the party, and the way forward. The party's leadership will likely discuss the party's next course of action and how to address the concerns of its members. The outcome of the meeting will be crucial in determining the party's stance on the matter and how it will proceed with the appeal.

Source: Adom Online