Kwame Andy Appiah Kubi, former lawyer for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chair Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has said that his former client has instructed him to appeal the 20-year jail term handed to him for illegal mining (Galamsey).
Appiah-Kubi made this announcement on News Central on Monday, July 20.
He described the jailing of Wontumi as a disappointment.
“You indicated that you have the instruction of Wontumi to appeal the case; is that so? Tv3’S Eric Egbeta asked him. In answer, Appiah Kubi said, “That is exactly so.”
“We will proceed on appeal. He called me this morning and gave me instructions that ‘if it should happen this way, go on appeal on my behalf’,” Mr Appiah-Kubi said.
On Monday, July 20, an Accra High Court convicted Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining, after finding them guilty of illegal mining offences at his Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The lead counsel for the Ashanti Regional Chairman petitioned the court to adjourn the judgement against his client, which was slated for Monday, 20 July, citing that he was out of the jurisdiction and would return on 22 July.
In her ruling, however, the presiding judge, Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, noted that both parties had been consulted in determining the date for the judgement; hence, Atta Akyea should have communicated then if he knew he would not be available on the set date.
The Court also dismissed the application for deferment and referral to the Supreme Court of some constitutional questions which the defence sought to have determined by the apex court.
Chairman Wontumi has been charged with assigning mineral rights without approval from the Minister responsible for mining, and facilitating unlicensed mining operations at Samreboi in the Western Region.
He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
