The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reacted to the 20-year jail sentence handed down to its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, saying he has been jailed without evidence.
To the NPP, his conviction was largely based on assumptions and not evidence that he had transferred his legally acquired mining concession for illegal mining activities.
Addressing a press conference Monday evening, surrounded by key figures in the party, the General-Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the NPP sees “Wontumi as a political prisoner”.
He said the party was going to appeal the decision of the High Court.
He said it was the considered view of the NPP that Chairman “Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence at all to support a conviction in respect of the offence for which he has been convicted.”
“It was never disputed that Chairman Wontumi lawfully acquired his mineral concession, it was never disputed… the central question was whether that concession had been assigned or transferred in violation of the law.”
It is our respected view that no evidence was adduced before the court, establishing any assignment or transfer of mineral rights by Chairman Wontumi. The prosecution could not produce any evidence to show that Wontumi had assigned his mineral rights. Instead the conviction rested on assumptions and inferences, which in our view could not amount to proof beyond reasonable doubt. That is why we firmly believe that his conviction is a travesty of justice and has to be overturned on appeal,” the General Secretary said.