Minority Caucus Escalates Challenge Against Chairman Wontumi’s Conviction, Declaring Him a Political Prisoner | Discuss Ghana

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has signaled that the Parliamentary Minority Caucus is preparing a comprehensive parliamentary and legal offensive following the High Court’s conviction and 20-year sentencing of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi).

In an official statement signed on behalf of the Caucus on July 20, Afenyo-Markin labeled Wontumi a “political prisoner” and warned that the group will deliver further formal communications and parliamentary actions as they scrutinize the judgment delivered by Criminal Court 4.

“There will be further statements from the Caucus on this matter, so let’s give ourselves some time,” Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated, urging patience while the legal and research teams review the trial transcript. “We are addressing a judgment that rests on grave jurisdictional defects and procedural flaws. The Minority Caucus will pursue every lawful, constitutional, and parliamentary avenue available to ensure these errors are fully and transparently exposed.”

Core Grievances Outlined by the Minority Caucus

The Minority Leader's initial statement laid out four key arguments challenging the legitimacy of the High Court’s ruling against Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited:

Denial of Counsel of Choice: The Caucus highlighted that Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay delivered the judgment despite notification that Wontumi’s lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, was engaged in prior professional duties outside the jurisdiction. The Minority argued that proceeding under these conditions violated Article 19(2)(g) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees an accused person the right to counsel of their choice.

Bypassing Constitutional Interpretation: The statement criticized the trial judge's refusal to refer defense arguments on Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to the Supreme Court, characterizing the decision to proceed straight to sentencing as a jurisdictional defect.

Allegations of Selective Prosecution: Afenyo-Markin drew comparisons between the swift 20-year sentence handed to Wontumi and stalled or less severe proceedings involving ruling party officials, arguing that the state's actions reflect partisan selective enforcement.

Support for Environmental Laws Without Victimization: While reiterating that the Minority supports the anti-galamsey fight to protect water bodies and forests, the Caucus maintained that environmental enforcement must adhere strictly to fair trial guarantees rather than political expediency.

A Multi-Front Legal and Political Strategy

With Chairman Wontumi currently remanded at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison following police transfer procedures, the Minority Caucus's upcoming statements are expected to coincide with emergency stay-of-execution applications filed by the defense at the Court of Appeal.

Afenyo-Markin assured supporters that parliamentary debates and oversight petitions regarding judicial procedures in the Samreboi trial will be formally tabled once Parliament resumes its scheduled sessions.