New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has visited the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison following his conviction in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case.

The visit took place on Wednesday, two days after the High Court in Accra sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment on each of two charges, with both sentences to run concurrently.

According to the NPP, Dr Bawumia’s visit was intended to show solidarity with the Ashanti Regional Chairman, whose conviction the party believes was unjust. The party has consistently maintained that the case against Wontumi is politically motivated.

As the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general election, Dr Bawumia is said to have considered it necessary to personally check on Wontumi’s welfare and assure him of the party’s continued support.

During the meeting, Dr Bawumia encouraged the imprisoned party chairman and reaffirmed the NPP’s commitment to exhausting all legal options to overturn the High Court’s ruling.

He also confirmed that the party’s legal team had been directed to work closely with lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea to challenge the conviction through the appellate process.

Mr Atta Akyea, who was expected to return to Ghana on Wednesday evening, is anticipated to file a formal appeal against the judgment in the coming days.

Chairman Wontumi was convicted on Monday, July 20, after the High Court found him guilty on two counts relating to the Akonta Mining case. He received a 20-year prison sentence on each count, to be served concurrently, and was additionally fined 10,000 penalty units for each offence.

Akonta Mining Limited, which stood trial alongside Wontumi, was also convicted on two counts and fined 15,000 penalty units.

Before delivering its verdict, the High Court dismissed an application by the defence requesting that constitutional issues arising from the case be referred to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application lacked merit and proceeded with the judgment.

Reacting to the decision, lead defence lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea criticised the court for refusing to refer the constitutional questions to the Supreme Court, insisting that the issues warranted further interpretation. He subsequently announced that the defence would appeal the conviction.