The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly criticised the High Court’s conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, describing the judgment as fundamentally flawed and unsupported by evidence.
At a press conference on Monday, July 20, 2026, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong expressed the party’s disappointment with the ruling while reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law.
The party also announced its intention to appeal the judgment.
“It is our considered view that Chairman Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence at all to support a conviction,” Mr Kodua Frimpong stated.
According to the NPP, it was never disputed that Chairman Wontumi lawfully acquired his mineral concession. The party argued that the prosecution failed to present evidence proving that he had assigned or transferred the mineral rights in breach of the law.
The NPP therefore maintained that the conviction was based on assumptions and inferences rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt.
NPP alleges political persecution
The party further accused the John Mahama-led NDC government of selective prosecution and using the case as a political tool.
The NPP alleged that the government had adopted a pattern of shielding its supporters while aggressively pursuing political opponents.
The party cited several unresolved allegations of illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, involving prominent NDC figures, including NDC National Organiser Joseph Yamin, NDC Vice Chairman Abanga Yakubu and Mohammed Yakubu, the NDC Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South.
