Wontumi Transferred to Nsawam Prison to Begin Sentence

Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been transferred to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to begin serving a 20-year sentence following his conviction over illegal mining activities.

The transfer was confirmed by Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, on Asempa FM's Ekosii sen on Monday, July 20, 2026.

Dr Boakye-Danquah expressed his disappointment with the verdict, describing it as a deeply sad and concerning development. "I have just parted ways with him, and he is being taken to Nsawam. How did we get to this stage as a country?" he said.

The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court had sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the case, also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with a further three years' imprisonment to apply as a default sentence if the fine goes unpaid.

Dr Boakye-Danquah questioned whether authorities would pursue other individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining with the same determination. "If this is the direction we are taking, while we know that there are others who are actively involved in galamsey, then we will wait and see how things unfold," he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah defended Chairman Wontumi's conduct throughout the trial, saying the NPP chairman had honoured every court appearance and cooperated fully with proceedings from the outset. "Chairman Wontumi has been law-abiding throughout this case. There was not a single day that he failed to appear in court. We have been very cooperative with the court and followed due process," he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah also expressed concerns that the conviction could be seen as political victimisation, given Chairman Wontumi's standing within the opposition party. "It is very sad. It feels like a form of political victimisation of a politically exposed individual," he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah added that the defence had not expected a conviction, insisting that nothing presented during the trial established Chairman Wontumi's personal involvement in illegal mining. He also disclosed that the defence had expected the trial court to factor in a pending application before the Supreme Court before delivering its judgement.

Chairman Wontumi's transfer to the Nsawam Prison marks the beginning of his 20-year sentence. The country will now wait to see how this development unfolds, and whether it sets a precedent for other individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining.

Source: Adom Online