National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Twifo Atti Morkwa, David Vondee, has accused former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of contributing to the legal troubles that have landed Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, behind bars.
Speaking during UTV’s Critical Issues programme on August 1, 2026, Vondee argued that the former president and the NPP failed to rein in Wontumi despite earlier concerns over his alleged involvement in illegal mining.
According to the MP, the party’s refusal to act decisively when questions were first raised about Wontumi’s activities ultimately paved the way for his conviction.
“With the greatest respect to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, they did not help Wontumi; the NPP also did not help him,” Vondee stated.
He recalled that while Samuel Abu Jinapor served as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, concerns were raised about Akonta Mining Limited and Wontumi’s alleged involvement in illegal mining. However, Akufo-Addo publicly defended both the company and the NPP chairman.
Vondee likened the situation to a parent refusing to discipline a child, only for society to later intervene.
“If you do not reprimand your child at home, the law will reprimand your child publicly for you. That is exactly what is happening to Wontumi. The NPP refused to correct him privately, and now the laws of Ghana are correcting him publicly,” he said.
He further maintained that the former president and the NPP must accept responsibility for Wontumi’s imprisonment, insisting that stronger internal action could have prevented the outcome.
“If anyone should be blamed, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP must take responsibility. A man in his 50s has now been sentenced to spend 20 years in prison,” he added.
Chairman Wontumi was convicted by Criminal Court 4 of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, after being found guilty of offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.
The court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment, with all custodial sentences to run concurrently. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each of the six counts.
Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted, received fines of 15,000 penalty units on each of two counts.
According to the prosecution, Wontumi unlawfully assigned mineral rights on Akonta Mining’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated unauthorized mining activities on the concession.
