Chairman Wontumi Apologises to Mahama and First Lady, Appeals for Clemency
The jailed NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman says his apology is a gesture of reconciliation as he appeals to President Mahama for clemency.
- Wontumi apologised to President Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama over past campaign remarks.
- He is seeking clemency while serving a 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining
- His spokesperson says the apology is aimed at reconciliation and not an admission of political interference
The incarcerated Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has apologised to President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama for any offensive remarks he made during the campaign ahead of the 2024 general election.
The apology comes as Wontumi serves a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted over illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Speaking in an interview, Wontumi’s spokesperson, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, said the apology was a sincere gesture of goodwill and reconciliation. He also appealed to President Mahama to consider granting Wontumi clemency.
“The first call is to render an apology, and I think that is important. Former Chairman renders an apology to him if, at some stage, the conversations went overboard, which was never intended,” Boakye-Danquah said.
He stressed, however, that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission that politics influenced the court proceedings or Wontumi’s conviction.
“Not at all. We are aware that in this country there are influences. If you are able to identify those influences and begin making amends, I think we build a better society for all of us to live in,” he stated.
According to Boakye-Danquah, the appeal for forgiveness is intended to foster national reconciliation and respect, rather than suggest that President Mahama played any role in Wontumi’s prosecution or sentencing.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after Criminal Court 4 of the High Court found him guilty on all six charges brought against him.
He, together with Akonta Mining Limited and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, was prosecuted over illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The prosecution told the court that the accused unlawfully assigned mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining operations without the required authorisation, contrary to the provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act.
