AG Opposes Bail Pending Appeal: Wontumi Will Run Away From Ghana

The Attorney General has mounted a fierce opposition to the bail application filed by convicted Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) describing him as a “significant flight risk” who cannot be trusted to remain in the country while pursuing his appeal.

In an affidavit filed on Tuesday, August 11, the Office of the Attorney General prayed the High Court to summarily dismiss the bail application, arguing that the grounds of appeal do not demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success.

The move comes as Chairman Wontumi, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining-related offences, fights to secure his release pending the hearing of his appeal.

His lawyers had on Friday, August 7, approached the High Court seeking bail while he challenges his conviction and sentence.

State Attorney Priscilla Lartey, who swore to the affidavit on behalf of the Attorney-General, stated that the grounds of appeal filed by lawyers for Chairman Wontumi “discloses no reasonable chance of success”, a key requirement for granting bail pending appeal.

The State further dismissed claims that the application discloses special or exceptional circumstances that would warrant the court exercising its discretion in favour of the convict.

In a dramatic twist, the prosecution cited comments made by Chairman Wontumi’s previous counsel during a television interview, in which the lawyer reportedly revealed that but for his “intense management” of the applicant’s “chaotic character”, the NPP chairman had been determined to resist arrest or breach his bail conditions.

A video of the interview has been attached as an exhibit to the affidavit, which the State says corroborates the materiality of the flight risk.

Multiple Cases Heighten Escape Fears

The Attorney General argued that the risk of Chairman Wontumi fleeing the jurisdiction is further heightened by the fact that he is standing trial in other criminal matters. If convicted in those cases, he could face imprisonment for a considerable number of years, giving him additional motive to evade justice.

The prosecution also noted that the applicant has, as disclosed in his own affidavit, had “several brushes with the law”.

Physical Presence Not Needed

The Attorney General disputed the claim that Chairman Wontumi’s physical presence was necessary for his lawyers to prepare written addresses in support of his appeal, arguing that the trial has effectively been concluded and his presence is therefore not required.

Conviction and Sentence

Chairman Wontumi was convicted on two counts of assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The sentences are running concurrently.

Despite his imprisonment, campaign spokespersons for Chairman Wontumi have indicated that he has not abandoned his ambition to contest for the national chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party. His campaign team has stated that they will file his nomination forms when the party opens nominations, leaving the final decision to delegates.

The defence lawyers are expected to move their motion on August 19 at the High Court, where the fate of the embattled NPP chairman’s bail application will be decided.