NPP Vows to Appeal Wontumi's 20-Year Sentence Amidst Politic

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vowed to appeal the 20-year prison sentence handed to its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.

The party's General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, described the ruling as "politically motivated" during a press conference on July 20, 2026, the same day the sentence was handed down.

Senior party figures, including Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin and several other national party executives, gathered to present a united front in support of the embattled chairman.

Wontumi conviction based on assumptions, not proof beyond reasonable doubt – NPP

The high-profile turnout underscored the significance Wontumi holds within the NPP's internal structures, particularly in a region considered the party's traditional stronghold.

Chairman Wontumi was found guilty in connection with illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Company Limited's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The verdict, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, also covers Akonta Mining Company Limited and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi.

The NPP's decision to convene so swiftly after the sentencing and to deploy some of its most senior voices reflects the scale of concern within the party's ranks over the judicial outcome.

The party intends to pursue an appeal against the court decision, as confirmed by General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua.

The NPP's stance on the ruling underscores the weight the party attaches to the occasion, with Chairman Wontumi being a powerful and influential figure in the party's internal structures.

The judicial outcome has sparked concern within the party's ranks, and it remains to be seen how the appeal will unfold.

Source: Yen People