“Remove the Hard Labour”:  Afia Pleads for Wontumi

Controversial media personality Afia Schwarzenegger has attracted attention online after making a humorous appeal for mercy for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following his conviction in the Samreboi illegal mining case.

In a video shared on social media, Afia said her pastor had encouraged her to practise forgiveness as a Christian. She then jokingly appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghanaian judiciary to reduce the severity of Wontumi’s punishment.

“This morning my pastor called me. He said as a Christian, I should practise forgiveness. So l am begging President Mahama and the Ghanaian judiciary, have a bit of mercy on Wontumi. The 20 years with hard labour, remove the hard labour and let him just serve the 20 years,” she said while laughing.

She later added, “What were you expecting me to say?” as she continued her playful comments.

Afia Schwarzenegger’s remarks came shortly after an Accra High Court sentenced Chairman Wontumi, who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to an effective 20 years in prison after he was found guilty on all six counts in the illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining.

The court also imposed fines of GH¢120,000 on Chairman Wontumi and GH¢180,000 on Akonta Mining.

Despite the humorous nature of her comments, Afia and Wontumi have had a long history of public disagreements. The two have exchanged strong words and accusations through television, radio and social media platforms over the years.

Their conflict even led to a legal battle in 2022, which resulted in a 10-day prison sentence for Afia. The sentence was later replaced with a GH¢60,000 fine and a 36-month good behaviour bond.