Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John-Peter Amewu, has expressed solidarity with Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following his conviction and custodial sentence, while urging calm and respect for due process.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, Amewu said he received the news of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP’s conviction “with deep shock and profound concern.”
Amewu, who also served as NPP Regional Chairman in the Volta Region, stated that he respects the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. However, he noted that respect for the law also includes raising concerns where a sentence appears severe.
“Respect for the rule of law also includes the right to express concern where a sentence appears severe, shocking, or capable of raising legitimate questions about proportionality, fairness, and the broader administration of justice,” he said.
“A Colleague I Worked With
Amewu recalled working closely with Chairman Wontumi in the lead-up to the 2016 general elections, describing him as a colleague in the effort to reorganise and strengthen the NPP after the party’s 2008 defeat.
“It is against this personal and political background that I express my solidarity with Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako and his family at this difficult moment,” he stated.
On Illegal Mining and Justice
Addressing the context of the case, the former minister said illegal mining, or galamsey, remains a serious threat to Ghana’s environment and communities, and that the fight against it must be “firm, lawful, and non-partisan.”
He, however, described the reported sentence of *twenty years’ imprisonment with hard labour as “a matter of grave national concern.”
“It affects not only the individual concerned, but also raises broader questions about how Ghana balances environmental protection, criminal accountability, judicial discretion, political neutrality, and humane justice,” Amewu said.
He welcomed the decision to pursue an appeal, noting that appellate courts exist to review issues of law, sentencing and proportionality.
“I urge all party members, sympathisers, and concerned citizens to remain calm, disciplined, and respectful of the judicial process while the matter is pursued through the proper legal channels,”
he added.
Call for Fairness and Unity
Amewu stressed that his solidarity was “not a rejection of the rule of law” but rather a call for justice to be “fully, fairly, transparently, and proportionately” applied.
He extended prayers and support to Chairman Wontumi, his family, NPP members in the Ashanti Region, and the wider party.
“May justice be done, and may Ghana remain united, lawful, and peaceful,” he concluded.
The statement comes amid public debate over the sentencing and its implications for the fight against illegal mining and political accountability.
