The First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Kwabena Nsenkyire, who is seeking re-election says the party will work tirelessly to secure a presidential pardon for the party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, if delegates give him another term.

His remarks follow Wontumi's 20-year prison sentence, which Mr Nsenkyire described as "very bad news" for the party, insisting the punishment was excessive.

Speaking to JoyNews' Nana Yaw Gyimah at the NPP Ashanti Regional headquarters after the court delivered its judgment on Monday, July 20, he said the mood among party members was one of sadness and disappointment.

“It is very bad news. You can see everyone here, those yet to go through vetting and those of us who have completed ours. We are all unhappy. We are deeply disappointed, and even the 20-year sentence is too harsh,” he said.

Mr Nsenkyire appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to consider exercising compassion in the matter.

“So I’m pleading with President John Dramani Mahama; he should temper justice with mercy and do something about it,” he stated.

He said the development would motivate party members to work harder to bring the NPP back into government so they can offer him a presidential pardon.

“This is rather going to ginger us because we need to get him out, adding that he (Wontumi) needs to come out at all costs,” Mr Nsenkyire said.

He added that if delegates renew his mandate as Regional First Vice Chairman, he would work tirelessly for the party’s success, just as he did during former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign.

“If the delegates give me the mandate to serve as Regional First Vice Chairman again, I will work tirelessly, just as I did for Dr Bawumia, to demonstrate that when we return to power, we can secure a presidential pardon for him (Wontumi)," he said.

On whether Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers should consider appealing the judgment, Mr Nsenkyire said the legal process remained an option available to them.

Mr Nsenkyire further argued that the situation would not have occurred if the NPP were in government, urging party members to work harder ahead of the 2029 general elections.

“If the NPP were in power or is in power, would this happen to Wontumi? No, it’s not going to happen to Wontumi. This is the reason why we have to work very hard for the NPP to come into power in 2029, and we can get him out,” he added.

Background to the case

The case arose from a police anti-illegal mining operation conducted at the Samreboi concession on April 16 and 17, 2025.

The operation led to the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others, with authorities recovering several items, including 25 serviceable excavators, firearms, vehicles, and cash amounting to GH¢157,000.

The prosecution argued that Mr Antwi-Boasiako, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, permitted mining activities to take place on the concession without the required approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The defence, however, maintained that Mr Antwi-Boasiako never authorised mining activities and that persons found on the concession were engaged only for land reclamation and coconut plantation activities.