Kwabena Nsenkyire, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman, has begged President John Dramani Mahama to grant Chairman Wontumi a presidential pardon.
According to Kwabena Nsenkyire, Wontumi’s 20-year prison sentence has saddened party members, but he noted that their immediate focus was on ensuring justice.
He stated, “The news has dampened our spirits. But that is not our focus now. We are rather looking at justice prevailing”.
“After we hear from his lawyers, we’d know what to do, as a party,” he explained.
He called on President Mahama to consider granting Chairman Wontumi a presidential pardon.
“It’d be good for President Mahama to pardon him. It will increase his glory, too”, he said.
Kwabena Nsenkyire highlighted that President Mahama pardoning Wontumi will reinforce his reputation as a “father for all”, which will demonstrate the Christian values associated with his Assemblies of God faith.
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as a “political prisoner”.
According to the NPP, Wontumi has been politically targeted by the John Mahama-led NDC government.
The NPP, addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, July 20, addressed by the General Secretary of the party, Justin Frimpong Kodua, announced plans to mount a legal and political challenge against his conviction.
Speaking to the press, Justin Frimpong Kodua stated, “We address you today with profound disappointment, but also with an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and the pursuit of justice”.
“While we respect the authority of our courts, respect for the judiciary does not require silence in the face of a judgment that is fundamentally flawed. Our Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to disagree with judicial decisions and to seek redress through the appellate process. That is precisely what we intend to do.”
“It is our considered view that Chairman Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence at all to support a conviction in respect of the offence for which he has been convicted,” Mr Kodua stated.
“It was never disputed that Chairman Wontumi lawfully acquired his mineral concession. That fact was established and accepted before the court.”
“The prosecution could not produce any evidence to show that Wontumi had assigned his mineral right.”
“That is why we firmly believe that this conviction is a travesty of justice and has to be overturned on appeal,” Mr Kodua said.
He further added, “The NPP legal team is filing an appeal of this decision. I want the whole world to know that Wontumi being sentenced is because of politics; he did not commit any crime. He is a political criminal; it is because of politics that is why he has been jailed”.
@ghnow_ “Chairman Wontumi will remain a hero and will not suffer” – NPP 3rd Vice Chairman, Chairman Buga #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ The New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by “The conviction of Chairman Wontumi is not a trophy to appease the Ghanaian people.” — Justin Frimpong Kodua, NPP General Secretary #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
