AG opposes Wontumi’s bail application, cites flight risk

The Office of the Attorney General has opposed an application for bail filed by Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal against his conviction and sentence.

The opposition was contained in an affidavit filed by the Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday, August 11, in response to the bail application submitted by the NPP executive.

Lawyers for Wontumi had on Friday, August 7, approached the High Court seeking an order granting their client bail while he pursues an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

However, the Attorney General has urged the court to reject the application, arguing that the grounds contained in Wontumi’s appeal do not demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success.

In its affidavit, the AG’s office challenged claims made by the applicant in the affidavit supporting his bail application and maintained that the grounds of appeal were insufficient to establish that the appeal had a reasonable chance of succeeding.

The Office of the Attorney General stated that “the grounds of appeal contained in the Exhibit CB2, the appeal, contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the affidavit in support of the motion, discloses no reasonable chance of success.”

The Attorney General’s opposition also focuses on concerns about Wontumi’s possible failure to remain within the jurisdiction while the appeal process is ongoing.

It argues that the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman poses a significant flight risk and has urged the court to take that factor into consideration when determining whether to grant him bail.

“That contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the affidavit in support of the motion, the Applicant constitutes a significant flight risk.”

CitiNewsRoom