Former legal counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has announced that he is returning to represent him as he prepares to appeal his 20-year prison sentence.
Andy Appiah-Kubi said his decision followed a message he received from Wontumi shortly before the High Court delivered its judgment on Monday, July 20, 2026.
According to Appiah-Kubi, Wontumi anticipated the possibility of a custodial sentence and instructed him to file an appeal if he was convicted.
Speaking in an interview on TV3, the lawyer explained that although he had officially withdrawn from the case before the judgment was delivered, he has now resumed his role to lead the appeal.
He maintained that the conviction was based on limited facts and expressed confidence that the decision could be overturned.
“So, the next thing is that we will proceed with an appeal, presenting the evidence on record. I will challenge this judgment any day, anytime,” Appiah-Kubi said.
He further revealed that Wontumi had predicted the outcome before entering the courtroom.
“This judgment, Wontumi knew before he went to court. He called me this morning and told me, ‘If it should happen this way, go on appeal on my behalf,'” he added.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court found him guilty on all six charges brought against him.
In her ruling, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ordered that the prison terms run concurrently. The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on each of the six counts.
Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
The convictions were secured under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 995), which introduced tougher penalties for illegal mining-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Limited and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, were prosecuted over alleged illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The prosecution argued that the accused unlawfully assigned mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining operations without the required authorisation, contrary to the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act.
