Miracles Dennis Aboagye, the Communications team member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was jailed because of his own mouth.
According to Miracles Aboagye, Chairman Wontumi’s public utterances while the NPP was in power were a major reason behind his current 20-year prison sentence and not because of galamsey.
Miracles Aboagye stressed that Wontumi has been made a scapegoat unless people don’t want to accept the truth.
Speaking during a discussion on UTV, Miracles Aboagye stated, “We all know that the reason why Chairman Wontumi is in jail isn’t because of galamsey but because of his own mouth. As for Chairman Wontumi being used as a scapegoat for a political party, we knew that was going to happen. He is a political prisoner”.
“We all know that Chairman Wontumi is a scapegoat unless you don’t want to accept the truth.
“He’s in jail because of politics. He’s a political prisoner. I doubt he would have been in there if he wasn’t Chairman Wontumi. There are a lot of galamsey operators, so why haven’t they been jailed?” he added.
In related news, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, the former Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, has maintained that the mining activities of Chairman Wontumi, are his personal business affairs and should not be associated with the party.
According to Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, although Wontumi is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, his mining operations were undertaken in a personal capacity.
Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi argued that the NPP and Minority Caucus in Parliament had publicly commented on the matter, but stressed that those reactions should not be interpreted as the party owning Wontumi’s mining business
Speaking on Channel One TV on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi stated, “Let’s not colour Wontumi as the NPP when it comes to mining because those mining activities were his business, not the NPP. He happens to be a regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, but the mining business is personal”.
The former MP further called for fairness in the fight against illegal mining adding that other individuals involved in similar offences should face equal prosecution.
Meanwhile, the NPP has said Chairman Wontumi has been convicted in circumstances where there was no evidence to support the offence for which he was convicted.
Wontumi described Chairman Wontumi as a “political prisoner” who 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”.
Watch the video below:
NPP Youth Organizer Moses Abor has condemned the persistent insults directed at the President and his family by some members of the party on social media.
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 22, 2026
He stressed that while constructive criticism is essential in a democracy, it should be focused on issues of national… pic.twitter.com/CrcHs5pYvx
@ghnow_ We have filled for appeal and bail in the Chairman Wontumi Case – Lawyers for Wontumi #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ The Deputy Attorney General has arrived at the High Court for the trial of Chairman Wontumi in the Tano Forest reserve #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
