Lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi have filed a bail application at the High Court pending the determination of his appeal against his 20 years’ imprisonment.
The application, filed by his lawyers, Messrs Zoe, Akyea & Co. on August 6, 2026, argues that Wontumi has already lodged a notice of appeal challenging both his conviction and the 20-year custodial sentence imposed by the High Court.
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted over illegal mining activities at Samreboi.
His legal team argues that a bail in his favour will not only enable him work hand-in-hand with his counsel towards his acquittal but also make him available to consult and confer with counsel which is currently being frustrated by his present confinement.
The court document reads: “Take Notice that this Honourable Court will be moved by Counsel for and on behalf of the 1st Appellant/Applicant (“Applicant”) herein praying the Court for an order that the Applicant, who is currently incarcerated at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, be admitted to bail pending appeal upon the grounds stated in the accompanying affidavit and for any further order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem meet.”
Wontumi’s lawyers further argued that their client is of good character and has sufficient means and substance to meet sureties should the Court grant him bail.
“Prior to his conviction, the Applicant had never had any brush with the law so the issue of whether he will commit an offence while on bail does not arise. The Applicant categorically states that he will not in any way interfere with the course of justice if he is granted bail pending the determination of their appeal,” they stated.
“The Applicant is willing to comply with all conditions reasonably necessary that may be imposed on him by the Court for the bail,” his lawyers said.
Wontumi’s lawyers have filed an appeal against his 20-year jail term. The appeal was filed on July 28, 2026.
The Notice of Appeal sighted by 3news states in part, “Take Notice that the 1st and 3rd Accused persons/Appellants (“Appellants”) herein, who are dissatisfied with the judgment of the High Court (Criminal Division ‘4’), Accra, presided over by Her Ladyship, Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, J., dated the 20th day of July 2026, do hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal upon the grounds set out in paragraph 3 hereof and will at the hearing of the appeal seek the reliefs set out in paragraph 4.”
According to the Notice of Appeal, “The convictions are unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence adduced at the trial.”
The lawyers explained that, “The learned trial judge did not read the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, as a whole. The combined effect of sections 13(8) and 46 of the said Act is exculpatory of the 1st and 3rd Appellants and consistent with their innocence.”
