AG Opposes Wontumi’s Bail Pending Appeal

Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi

 

The Office of the Attorney General (AG) has opposed an application seeking bail for the jailed Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, pending an appeal against his conviction and 20-year jail term for mining related offences.

An affidavit in opposition filed by the Office avers that the application for bail pending appeal filed by his lawyers discloses no reasonable chances of the appeal succeeding.

It also contends that Chairman Wontumi, having been convicted, jailed and standing trial in other matters, poses a significant flight risk if granted bail by the court.

Conviction

Chairman Wontumi was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on July 20, 2026, for permitting others to mine on his company’s concession without ministerial approval.

His lawyers have since appealed against the decision of the trial court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, arguing that the trial was fundamentally flawed in law.

They have also filed an application for bail pending appeal, arguing that the appeal raises substantial, serious and arguable questions of law and fact with overwhelming prospects of success.

“The conviction proceeded upon grave errors of law which substantially affected the outcome of the trial, and the appeal discloses several exceptional circumstances warranting the exercise of this Honourable Court’s discretion in favour of the Applicant,” a portion of the application stated.

Opposition

But the Office of the Attorney General has filed an affidavit in opposition to the application, arguing that Chairman Wontumi poses a significant flight risk if granted bail by the court.

The Office says this position is fortified by Chairman Wontumi’s previous counsel  who “recently informed the public via a television interview that but for his intense management” of Chairman Wontumi’s “chaotic character,” the NPP official was at all time material determined to resist arrest or breach his bail conditions.

The AG’s Office says it has attached a video of the previous lawyer’s public remarks which corroborate its position that the convict is a flight risk.

“…The materiality of the risk that the Appellant will flee is enhanced by the fact that the Appellant is standing criminal trial in other matters in respect of which he, if convicted, stands to be imprisoned for a considerable number of years,” the affidavit in opposition further pointed out.

The Office also argues that Chairman Wontumi’s presence is of no moment to the lawyer’s preparation for the appeal, as the trial has already concluded and the lawyer only has a written address to submit in support of the appeal.

It adds that the defence lawyer’s application does not disclose any special or exceptional circumstances to warrant an order admitting Chairman Wontumi to bail pending appeal.

The AG’s Office is therefore, asking the court to dismiss the application summarily.

By Gibril Abdul Razak

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