The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), together with its 2028 flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the party’s legal team, is holding an emergency meeting to review the High Court judgement that convicted and sentenced the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The meeting follows the High Court’s decision to sentence Chairman Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts for which he was convicted in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. The sentences are to run concurrently. The court also fined him 10,000 penalty units on each count.
Akonta Mining Limited, which was convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay found Wontumi guilty on Counts One and Four, while Akonta Mining Limited was convicted on Counts Three and Six, ruling that the prosecution had proven all the essential elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
Announcing the emergency meeting in a Facebook post on Monday, July 20, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said the party’s leadership, flagbearer and legal team were reviewing the judgement in the Samreboi mining matter to determine the appropriate next course of action.
“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), together with our Flagbearer and the Party’s legal team, is currently in a meeting to thoroughly review the judgement delivered by the Court in the case involving our Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, concerning the Samreboi mining matter, and to determine the appropriate next course of action,” he stated.
Mr Frimpong said the party would communicate its official position and the decisions arising from the deliberations in due course.
In the meantime, he appealed to party supporters to remain calm and united.
“I respectfully urge all members of our great Party to rally behind the leadership during this challenging moment. Let us remain calm, united, disciplined, and steadfast in our commitment to the values and interests of the New Patriotic Party,” he said.
