Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw and a close ally of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has threatened person who he claimed contributed to his friend injustice.
According to Maurice Ampaw, everybody who played a part in Wontumi’s injustice will see the consequences.
Speaking in an interview, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw stated, “There are consequences for that. When you do injustice to an innocent soul, there are consequences for that. And everybody who played a part will see the consequences”.
“For some of us, the way we see it, this case was prejudiced, from the beginning to the end… So, we need to [pause], and then we’ll see what will happen, legally and spiritually,” Lawyer Ampaw stated.
He further cautioned people against celebrating Chairman Wontumi’s conviction, “I want to say that anybody who would jubilate over what has happened to Wontumi does not know what tomorrow brings, because this is not a time for jubilation; it’s a time for reflection”.
“Currently, there is always jailing of NPP people, and NDC people jubilate. All the cases that are going to court lead to jail, arrest, denial of bail, and NDC is jubilating, whilst NPP is crying and mourning,” he added.
Lawyer Ampaw further questioned the handling of the case, claiming he was not shocked about the outcome, saying, “I’m not shocked about the outcome of Wontumi’s case, because it was clear that if you want to argue, it is one of the most predetermined criminal proceedings that I’ve ever witnessed as a lawyer.
Because it started with the Attorney General, press conferences, implicating and condemning (Wontumi, and holding him guilty. When the trial started, the way the prosecution was fast-tracked with the support and aid of the judge, who came under pressure from social media influencers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, has revealed that Chairman Wontumi, has been taken to the Nsawam Prison to begin his 20-year jail term.
According to Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, on Monday, July 20, he just parted ways with Chairman Wontumi as prison authorities prepared him to be transported to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen show on Monday, July 20, Dr Boakye-Danquah stated, “I have just parted ways with him, and he is being taken to Nsawam. How did we get to this stage as a country?”.
“We did not expect this outcome because, based on the evidence we provided, it was clear that there was nothing presented in court that showed Chairman Wontumi was personally involved in illegal mining throughout the proceedings,” he stated.
“We were therefore very hopeful that, considering the application that was filed at the Supreme Court, Her Ladyship would take her time to consider the matter. Unfortunately, she did not agree with our position and went ahead to deliver her judgement,” he said.
“It is very sad. It feels like a form of political victimisation of a politically exposed individual,” he remarked.
He added, “We are not talking about just any other person. We are talking about the sitting Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, the stronghold of the party and the largest opposition party.”
“If this is the direction we are taking, while we know that there are others who are actively involved in galamsey, then we will wait and see how things unfold,” he said.
“We can only hope and pray that our country can come together and find its way forward.”
“Chairman Wontumi has been law-abiding throughout this case. There was not a single day that he failed to appear in court. We have been very cooperative with the court and followed due process,” he said.
@ghnow_ The NPP leadership is addressing the nation following Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year prison sentence, insisting the party will challenge the verdict and pursue an appeal. What are your thoughts? #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Police CID transfers Chairman Wontumi from the CID Headquarters to Nsawam Prison to begin his 20-year jail term after the completion of all necessary custodial and administrative procedures. #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – Wasako Lyrics
