Wontumi petitions High Court for bail pending appeal while held at Nsawam prison
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has applied to the High Court for bail while awaiting the outcome of his appeal against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.
The application, filed on August 5, 2026, states that Wontumi is currently being held at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons. His legal team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea of Zoe, Akyea & Co., filed the motion under Section 96(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), and Section 33(1) of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459).
According to the application, the court is being asked to grant Wontumi bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal, based on the arguments outlined in a supporting affidavit.
The case, The Republic v. Bernard Antwi Boasiako @ Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (at large), and Akonta Mining Company Limited, identifies Wontumi as the first appellant/applicant and Akonta Mining Company Limited as the third appellant.
The High Court’s Criminal Division ‘4’ in Accra is expected to hear the bail application on August 19, 2026. Copies of the motion have been served on the Office of the Attorney-General and the Director of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.
The court will decide whether Wontumi should be released on bail while his appeal is pending.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years in prison after Criminal Court 4 of the High Court convicted him on all six charges brought against him.
He, alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited and a third accused, Kwame Antwi, was prosecuted over alleged illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Prosecutors argued that the accused unlawfully transferred mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining operations without the required authorisation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act.
