The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was based on assumptions and inferences rather than evidence that met the legal threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

The Accra High Court sentenced Bernard Antwi-Boasiako to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, July 20, the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, said the NPP disagrees with the judgment of the Accra High Court and believes the conviction cannot stand on appeal.

The party argued that it was never disputed during the trial that Chairman Wontumi lawfully acquired his mineral concession, insisting that the central issue before the court was whether he had unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral rights.

"It is our considered view 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.

"That fact was established and accepted before the Court. The central question was whether that concession had been assigned or transferred in violation of the law. It is our respectful view that no evidence was adduced before the Court establishing any such assignment or transfer of mineral rights by Chairman Wontumi," he said.

He added, "the prosecution could not produce any evidence to show that Wontumi had assigned his Mineral right. Instead, the conviction rested on assumptions and inferences which, in our view, could not amount to proof beyond reasonable doubt."

This, according to the party, "is why we firmly believe that this conviction is a travesty of justice and has to be overturned on appeal."

The NPP has indicated that it will pursue all available legal avenues to challenge the court's decision, while maintaining that Chairman Wontumi deserves a fair hearing through the appellate process.