Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, says his final conversation with the convicted politician was a charge to continue working for the party and help return it to power.

According to Dr Boakye-Danquah, Chairman Wontumi urged him to remain committed, protect the NPP and work towards the party's comeback under its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse on Tuesday, July 21, Dr Boakye-Danquah recounted the moments after the High Court sentenced Mr Boasiako to 20 years' imprisonment, describing the development as unexpected.

“Chairman told me to hang on, work hard for the party, bring the party back to power and get the governance ongoing. Those were his words to me: hang on, work hard for the party, protect the party, bring Dr Bawumia to power, and I'll be fine,” he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah said the moment was emotionally overwhelming, as he reflected on Chairman Wontumi, his family and the NPP.

He maintained that the conviction represented political victimisation, arguing that Mr Boasiako had played a significant role in the party’s electoral fortunes.

“Chairman Wontumi is an election bulldozer. He wins elections for the biggest opposition party that left governance a few months ago,” he stated.

The spokesperson described Chairman Wontumi as mentally, morally and emotionally strong, insisting that although he disagreed with the judgment, he believed he would overcome the challenge.

According to him, Wontumi expressed disagreement with the court’s decision through his reaction when the sentence was pronounced.

“He kept shaking his head, no, no, no, no. I could read those gestures clearly, in disagreement with the court’s order and also the final sentence. But he is a strong man,” Dr Boakye-Danquah said.

On Monday, July 20, Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 am on Monday, July 20, 2026, bringing to an end one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions.

The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with a default sentence of three years' imprisonment if the fine is not paid.