Lawyers for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have filed an application at the High Court seeking his release on bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
The application, filed by his legal representatives, Zoe, Akyea and Co., is seeking temporary freedom for the NPP executive while the Court of Appeal considers his challenge against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving the sentence after he was convicted over illegal mining activities at Samreboi.
In the motion filed before the High Court, his lawyers are asking the court to admit him to bail pending appeal, relying on grounds contained in an accompanying affidavit.
The application states that Wontumi, who is currently incarcerated at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, should be granted bail while the appellate process is ongoing.
The latest legal move follows Wontumi’s conviction and sentencing, which has attracted significant public and political attention, particularly because of his position as a senior official of the opposition NPP.
His lawyers are expected to argue why the circumstances of the case justify his release while he pursues the appeal.
If the High Court grants the application, Wontumi would remain out of prison while his appeal is heard and determined by the Court of Appeal.
The High Court is expected to assess the application and determine whether the applicant has met the legal requirements for bail pending appeal.
Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of engaging in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, at Samreboi.
His conviction has become a major political and legal issue, with the NPP previously raising concerns about what it describes as selective justice and the treatment of some of its members by state institutions.
The latest application therefore marks another significant step in the legal proceedings as Wontumi seeks to challenge his conviction and secure temporary freedom pending the determination of his appeal.
