Private legal practitioner and Executive Director of the Centre for Legitimacy and Rule of Law, Richard Nii Armah, has stated that Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has two main legal avenues available should he proceed with an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence.
He made these observations when weighing in on the likelihood of success for any prospective appeal by the convict.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), along with his firm, Akonta Mining Limited, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Accra High Court on Monday, 20 July 2026.
The court found Wontumi and Akonta Mining guilty on counts relating to the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval and deliberately facilitating unlawful mining operations.
Although his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, has claimed the defense team has identified up to 20 grounds upon which an appeal could succeed, Mr Nii Armah clarified that any legal challenge would ultimately rest on two distinct strategies within the law.
According to the legal expert, Wontumi can either challenge the conviction entirely by maintaining his innocence, or accept the conviction while appealing for a reduction in the severity of the sentence.
“Chairman Wontumi has the opportunity to go for an appeal. Two or three options may be available to him within the law,” Mr Nii Armah explained. “The first is that he may argue that he is not guilty, and so the High Court’s 20-year jail term should be vacated.
However, for that option to succeed, the records and documentation before the court must support that position.”
He added that the alternative route would be a plea for mitigation.
“His second option would be to admit to the conviction, but argue that the length of the sentence handed down was overly harsh and should be reduced. This is a recognized approach in law. These are the primary avenues open to him.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
