NPP convenes emergency meeting over Wontumi’s 20-year sentence

The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has convened an emergency meeting with its Flagbearer and legal team to review a High Court’s decision sentencing Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison.

The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie Tay on Monday, July 20, also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units.

The sentence came after the court found the NPP stalwart guilty of offences relating to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations.

The party said the meeting is aimed at assessing the judgment and determining its next course of action following the court’s decision.

In a statement issued on the same day, and signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said its leadership and legal team were carefully examining the judgment.

“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party, together with our Flagbearer and the Party’s legal team, is currently in a meeting to thoroughly review the judgement delivered by the Court," it read in part.

The NPP said it would communicate its official position and any decisions arising from the deliberations at a later date.

“The Party will communicate its official position and the decisions arising from these deliberations in due course," the statement noted.

Kodua Frimpong urged party members to remain calm and united while the leadership undertakes the review process.