Chairman Wontumi Appeals for Clemency Amid Incarceration as Attorney General Advances 30 'ORAL' Corruption Cases

28th July•3 min read•14 sources

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the incarcerated Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has issued a formal apology to President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama. Currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining activities in the Samreboi Forest, Wontumi’s spokesperson, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, stated that the apology regarding disparaging remarks made during the 2024 campaign is a gesture of reconciliation and a step toward seeking presidential clemency. While the defense emphasizes that the apology is not an admission of political influence regarding his conviction, the Ashanti Regional Constituency Chairmen’s Caucus has announced a night vigil on August 14, 2026, to show solidarity with their embattled leader.

Simultaneously, Wontumi faces a separate legal battle involving an alleged GH"30 million fraud case related to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. The High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, recently granted a 30-day extension for plea bargain negotiations after the defense team, now led by Samuel Atta Akyea, requested more time to finalize an agreement. Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai noted that while negotiations were advanced, they had been complicated by Wontumi’s current status as a convict. The court has adjourned the matter to August 27, 2026, allowing both parties to resolve the charges before the trial resumes.

These developments coincide with a broader anti-corruption drive by the Attorney General’s Office under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai announced that approximately 30 cases have been identified for prosecution, with several already at advanced stages in the courts. Among the high-profile dockets being prioritized are the SkyTrain project and the ongoing trial of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB). The state intends to file several new cases before the start of the next legal year in October, focusing strictly on prosecutable evidence.

In the ongoing NSB trial, a key prosecution witness from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Frank Marshall Cromwell, testified that GH"49.1 million allegedly stolen by Adu-Boahene and his accomplices was transferred from a legitimate public account. Despite extensive cross-examination by defense counsel Samuel Atta Akyea, who questioned the classification of the account, the witness maintained that investigations confirmed the funds were state-owned. The judge has urged the defense to expedite their proceedings, noting that the trial's complexity has already led to lengthy testimonies.

Beyond these high-level political trials, Ghana’s legal system is addressing various other regulatory and criminal matters. The Minerals Commission has ordered a cessation of all mining operations at a disputed concession in Gbane following violent clashes between Earl International Group and Nanlamtaaba Enterprise. Meanwhile, the Accra Circuit Court recently remanded a pastor, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, for an alleged US$60,000 romance fraud scheme. Together, these cases reflect an intensified period of judicial activity as the state seeks to enforce mining regulations and recover public assets through the ORAL initiative.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Chairman Wontumi Appeals for Clemency Amid Incarceration as Attorney General Advances 30 'ORAL' Corruption Cases

More from politics

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