Wontumi is still in prison, sleeps on bare floor – Palgrave Boakye dismisses alleged release

Spokesperson for incarcerated former Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has dismissed claims he has been released from prison.

Speaking on Asaase Pa Radio, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi remains in custody at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

“Chairman Wontumi is still in prison. He is sleeping on the bare floor and a student mattress,” he said.

Palgrave became emotional during the interview and broke down in tears while discussing what he described as Wontumi’s condition in custody.

He subsequently appealed to the public not to pay attention to reports suggesting that the former Ashanti Regional NPP chairman had regained his freedom.

“Please ignore the rumours that Chairman Wontumi has been released. He is still in prison,” he said.

On July 20, the High Court convicted Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited over illegal mining activities carried out on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The court found that Wontumi unlawfully authorised mining activities on the concession, leading to his conviction for assigning mineral rights without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources and for deliberately facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour on each of the two counts on which he was convicted, with the sentences to run concurrently. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count.

Akonta Mining Company Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units on each of the two counts for which it was convicted.

Meanwhile, his lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea on July 28 appealed the conviction, asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court’s decision and acquit them on all four counts.

They argued that the convictions were not supported by the evidence presented during the trial.

Also read:

• Wontumi files for bail pending appeal against 20-year prison sentence

• Wontumi is not a political prisoner; court’s ruling was fair and square – Prof….