Court to rule on Wontumi’s bail pending appeal on November 4

The High Court has adjourned to November 4, 2026, to rule on a bail application by former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Bosiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay fixed the date after hearing arguments from Wontumi’s legal team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, and the state, represented by Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, on Thursday.

Wontumi is seeking temporary release from prison while he appeals his conviction and 20-year sentence for permitting mining activities on his Samreboi concession without approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Moving the application, Atta Akyea argued that his client should be granted bail to enable him to prepare his appeal and effectively participate in two other criminal cases he is facing.

He maintained that Wontumi was not a flight risk, pointing to his compliance with previous bail conditions before his conviction.

The lawyer also urged the court to consider the 19 grounds of appeal filed by his client, arguing that they had a reasonable likelihood of success and supported the request for bail pending appeal.

However, Dr Srem-Sai opposed the application, contending that the grounds cited by Wontumi were ordinary arguments that could be raised by any person challenging a conviction.

He argued that established case law required applicants seeking bail pending appeal to demonstrate exceptional circumstances, which, in his view, had not been established in Wontumi’s case.

On the question of whether the former NPP regional chairman was likely to abscond, the Deputy Attorney General said his conduct during the trial could not, by itself, reliably establish that he would remain available if granted bail.

He further argued that the possibility of Wontumi receiving additional prison sentences to be served consecutively in his other criminal cases could create an incentive for him to flee if released.

Dr Srem-Sai also cited a video involving Wontumi’s former lawyer, in which the lawyer allegedly spoke about a plan by Wontumi to run over law enforcement officers to avoid arrest. He relied on the incident as part of the state’s opposition to the application.

During the proceedings, Justice Kocuvie-Tay, who convicted and sentenced Wontumi in July this year, also sought an update on the progress of his appeal.

Atta Akyea told the court that efforts were ongoing to compile the records of appeal for onward transmission to the Court of Appeal.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to November 4, when she is expected to deliver her decision on whether Wontumi should be granted bail pending the determination of his appeal.