Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has advised the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to allow their Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to carry his own cross following his conviction and 20-year term.
According to Asiedu Nketia, Chairman Wontumi’s case will affect the NPP heavily, adding that if it were his party, the NDC, he would never support him and would allow the law to do its work.
The NDC chairman argued that the NPP is disgracing itself because it would no longer have the moral authority to speak against illegal mining (galamsey) and the pollution of water bodies.
Speaking in an interview on Ambassadors TV on August 1, 2026, Asiedu Nketia stated, “Wontumi’s judgement I do not understand the NPP; if it was my party, the NDC, like I will not follow this case for me to mobilise party people to protest. How it is going to cost the NPP, they do not know. Wontumi’s case is costing the NPP big time.
So, can the NPP go and stand somewhere and speak against illegal mining, telling people not to destroy the forest or water when they have caught a member of their party, and there is evidence that he committed those crimes, and they didn’t leave him to carry his own cross. All the party members are saying he was not caught the right way.”
Asiedu Nketia further highlighted, “It is going to cost them; I think they have a problem with leadership. I offered to become their acting national Chairman because, should the NPP collapse, it will affect us, the NDC, because we are building a democracy.
The way the NPP are arguing Ghanaians are losing faith in them. In the future, if the NDC is stealing and they even expose it, will Ghanaians believe them? It is in the interest of the ruling party that the opposition will be responsible”.
Meanwhile, Gary Nimako Marfo, the Director of Legal Affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Sedina Tamakloe case has given him hope in the appeal filed by Chairman Wontumi.
According to Gary Nimako, the reasoning adopted by the Court of Appeal gives him reason to believe Wontumi’s appeal could also succeed after comparing the High Court judgment in Wontumi’s case with the Court of Appeal’s reasoning in the Sedina Tamakloe decision.
He argued that his assessment is based on the legal principles discussed in the Court of Appeal’s decision rather than political considerations.
Gary Nimako suggested that, in his view, there are similarities between the two cases that provide grounds for optimism as Wontumi pursues his appeal.
The Director of Legal Affairs of the NPP is quoted to have said, “This judgment, as it stands, gives me hope in Wontumi’s appeal,” he said on Newsfile on Joy News.
His comment follows, 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.
“If you read Wontumi’s judgment at the High Court and the manner with which the conviction took place, and you juxtapose that judgment vis-à-vis this particular judgment, then clearly, I can tell people that Wontumi will succeed on appeal,” he stated.
Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited have filed 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.
Watch the video below:
“Wontumi’s court case will affect the NPP heavily. If it was my party, I’ll never support such person. I will allow the law to do its work”
— GHANA CHRONICLES (@_GhChronicles) August 2, 2026
-Chairman Asiedu Nketiah pic.twitter.com/gYyPfWEqb4
@ghnow_ Watch Maame Ode’s energetic dance at Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s funeral #GHNow #FYP ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Day 2: Woman King, Adwoa Safo receives guest at the funeral of Apostle Kwadwo Safo #GHNow #FYP ♬ original sound – GHnow
