David Vondee, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Twifo Atti Morkwa, has said former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should be blamed for the conviction of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
According to David Vondee, Akufo-Addo and the NPP failed to reprimand Wontumi at home, and now the laws of Ghana are reprimanding him publicly.
Speaking during a panel discussion on UTV’s Critical Issues programme on August 1, 2026, Vondee argued, “When Samuel Abu Jinapor was the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, he stated that Akonta Mining and Wontumi were engaged in illegal mining. However, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo maintained that Akonta Mining and Wontumi were not involved in illegal mining activities.
“If you do not reprimand your child at home, the law will reprimand your child publicly for you. That is exactly what is happening to Wontumi. The NPP refused to reprimand him privately, and now the laws of Ghana are reprimanding him publicly.
“So, if we have to blame anyone, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP are responsible for Wontumi’s jail term. A man who is 50 years old is now going to jail for 20 years,” he stated.
It will be recalled that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo defended Akonta Mining in 2023 when he publicly rejected claims that Akonta Mining was involved in illegal mining activities.
Akufo-Addo boldly told the gathering that the company was not engaged in galamsey anywhere in the country.
Speaking at the Public gathering, Akufo-Addo, then president, stated, “Before I take my seat, let me respond briefly to the chairperson on the issue of illegal mining. I want to assure him and all of you that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak”.
Meanwhile, Lawyer for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea has disclosed that his client is doing very fine and is in high spirits.
According to Lawyer Atta Akyea, his client has filed an appeal against his 20-year prison sentence, adding that the legal team will also file an application for bail pending the determination of the appeal.
Speaking to the media at the premises of the High Court on July 31, 2026, Atta Akyea stated, “He is very fine and in high spirits. He is also excited that we have lodged an appeal, and we will pursue it”.
“We will bring an application for bail pending appeal, so these are all the options we have, and we will exercise them properly,” he added.
His comments follow Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited filing an appeal against their sentences in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
Wontumi is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the High Court’s judgment and acquit and discharge them on all four counts.
Chairman Wontumi’s notice of appeal, filed on Tuesday, July 28, challenges the entire judgment delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the High Court’s Criminal Division 4 on July 20.
He is being represented by Samuel Atta Akyea; the appellants argue that the convictions are unreasonable and unsupported by the evidence presented during the trial.
According to them, the trial judge misinterpreted key provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, and failed to consider the combined effect of sections 13(8) and 46 of the Act, which they say cleared them.
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Blame Akufo-Addo, NPP for Chairman Wontumi's 20-Year jail sentence – David Vondee#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/r1Ae1hsYbg
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) August 1, 2026
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