The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has mounted a sharp challenge to the High Court ruling that sentenced Bernard Antwi‑Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, to twenty years’ imprisonment under the Minerals and Mining Act.
In a statement issued from Parliament House, Accra, the Caucus expressed solidarity with Wontumi’s family and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing the judgment as “seriously defective” and pledging to pursue redress through lawful and constitutional means.
The Minority underscored its respect for judicial institutions, noting that criticism of legal reasoning does not amount to an attack on judicial integrity. “Judgments are tested, appealed, distinguished and debated in every serious jurisdiction on earth,” the statement read, stressing that accountability requires scrutiny of judicial decisions.
At the heart of the Minority’s objection is the trial court’s decision to pierce the corporate veil of Akonta Mining Limited, holding Wontumi personally liable for alleged corporate acts. The Caucus warned that such precedent raises grave questions for corporate governance and constitutional order.
Beyond corporate liability, the Caucus highlighted what it termed a “historic breach” — the denial of Wontumi’s right to counsel of choice. Drawing parallels with the case of Tsatsu Tsikata, who was acquitted in 2016 after the Court of Appeal condemned his trial as a miscarriage of justice, the Minority argued that due process cannot be waived for political convenience. “If that was a miscarriage of justice in 2016, the same standard cannot simply evaporate in 2026 because the accused now wears a different party’s colours,” the statement declared.
The Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to accountability in the fight against illegal mining, emphasizing that its position is not about shielding individuals but about ensuring even‑handed application of state power. It urged Wontumi’s legal team to place the matter squarely before the Court of Appeal, insisting that Article 19 of the Constitution demands rigorous examination of whether the proceedings respected fair trial rights.
“The best tribute we can pay to Chairman Wontumi and his family right now is resolve, channelled through every lawful and constitutional means available to us,” the Minority concluded, vowing to press for justice until the defects it identified are corrected.
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