The Parliamentary Minority Caucus has sharply criticised the High Court ruling that sentenced Bernard Antwi‑Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, to twenty years’ imprisonment, warning that the judgment reflects deeper constitutional and democratic concerns.
In its statement, the Caucus expressed solidarity with Wontumi’s family and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), urging members to respond with discipline and lawful resolve. It described the conviction as “seriously defective,” citing denial of counsel of choice and refusal to refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court.
The Minority argued that the ruling exemplifies selective justice, contrasting the swift prosecution of Wontumi with stalled investigations into governing party officials accused of illegal mining. It noted that while opposition figures face rapid and severe sanctions, comparable cases involving ruling party members remain unprosecuted.
The Caucus further warned that the refusal of referral under Article 130 undermines constitutional safeguards. “If trial courts may decline referral whenever they are personally persuaded of their own correctness, Article 130 is rendered a dead letter, accessible in theory, illusory in practice,” the statement cautioned. It stressed that such precedent risks inconsistent constitutional interpretation and erodes public confidence in judicial neutrality.
Drawing parallels with the 2016 acquittal of Tsatsu Tsikata, the Minority insisted that due process must be applied evenly across political divides. “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,” it declared.
The Caucus underscored that its position is not about shielding individuals but about defending constitutional governance. It warned that uneven application of prosecutorial power corrodes trust in institutions and threatens democratic competition. “A democracy survives on the confidence of the losing side that the rules of the game are fair,” the statement noted.
Reaffirming respect for judicial independence under Articles 125 and 127 of the Constitution, the Minority vowed to pursue justice through Parliament and public advocacy until the defects it identified are corrected.
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