Wontumi Seeks Bail Pending Appeal After Imprisonment at Nsawam Prison

Wontumi Applies for Bail Pending Appeal Following Imprisonment at Nsawam Prison

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has filed a bail application at the High Court while his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence is underway. The application was submitted by his legal counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea of Zoe, Akyea and Co.

Wontumi Seeks Release on Bail

The motion requests that the court release Wontumi on bail for the duration of the appeal process, with the supporting affidavit outlining the grounds for the request. According to the verified fact sheet, the application is scheduled to be moved before the High Court, Criminal Division 4 in Accra on August 19, 2026.

The court will now determine whether Wontumi qualifies for bail pending the final resolution of his appeal. Wontumi was convicted on all six charges brought against him and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the High Court. He was prosecuted alongside Akonta Mining Limited and a co-accused, Kwame Antwi, in connection with illegal mining activities on the company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The Conviction and Charges

Prosecutors established that the accused parties unlawfully transferred mineral rights on the concession without the required approval from the sector minister and carried out mining operations without the necessary authorisation, in contravention of the Minerals and Mining Act. Wontumi was found guilty of six charges related to the alleged illegal mining activities. The High Court will now consider the bail application as the appeal process continues.

The case is formally titled The Republic v. Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (at large), and Akonta Mining Company Limited, with Wontumi listed as the first appellant and Akonta Mining Company Limited as the third. Copies have been served on the Office of the Attorney-General, named as respondent, and the Director of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, where Wontumi is currently held.

The Appeal Process

The High Court will now determine whether Wontumi qualifies for bail pending the final resolution of his appeal. The court will consider the application and make a decision on whether to grant bail. If the application is successful, Wontumi may be released from prison pending the outcome of the appeal process.

The appeal process is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether Wontumi's application for bail will be successful. The High Court's decision will be closely watched by the public and the media.

Source: Yen Politics