Chairman Wontumi's lawyers to file appeal against conviction next week
Lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, are expected to file a notice of appeal next week against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.
Lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea disclosed this during an interview on Channel One Newsroom on Tuesday, July 21, following the High Court's decision to convict and sentence his client in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case.
Mr Atta Akyea said the legal team had already prepared the grounds of appeal, which are currently being reviewed before the formal filing of the notice.
According to him, the appeal process will begin immediately after the lawyers conclude their assessment and agree on the final grounds.
“We've already put together our grounds of appeal, and it's under consideration. Immediately the conclave agrees that what we have put together is very sound, we shouldn't waste time. I'm tempted to believe that, at the latest by next week, we should file a notice of appeal,” he said.
The former Abuakwa South MP maintained that the defence believes there are several legal issues that warrant appellate review, including constitutional questions, the court's treatment of prosecution witnesses and its interpretation of the alleged assignment of mineral rights.
Mr Atta Akyea also welcomed reports that the NPP's legal team intends to join him in pursuing the appeal, describing such collaboration as beneficial to the case.
“What I’ve heard, which I will not subvert, is a hard fact that the NPP legal team wants to have a collaboration with me, which I will not resent. For one simple reason that when you have a congregation of lawyers, the quality or the output is always good,” he said.
Chairman Wontumi was on Monday, July 20, convicted by the High Court in Accra on two counts in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The convictions relate to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources and facilitating illegal mining activities on Akonta Mining's concession at Samreboi.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on Chairman Wontumi for each count. Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.