Chairman Wontumi Apologises to Mahama,First Lady; Seeks Clemency After 20-Year Sentence

The  Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has apologised to President John Dramani Mahama and former First Lady Lordina Mahama over comments he made during the 2024 general election campaign.

The apology was disclosed by his spokesperson, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, who said the gesture was aimed at promoting reconciliation and goodwill.

According to Boakye-Danquah, Wontumi expressed regret if any of his campaign remarks against President Mahama and his wife were considered offensive or went beyond acceptable limits.

“The first call is to render an apology, and I think that is important. Former Chairman renders an apology to him if, at some stage, the conversations went overboard, which was never intended,” he said in an interview with Citi News.

He further appealed to President Mahama to consider granting clemency to the former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman.

However, Boakye-Danquah clarified that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission that political differences influenced the legal case against Wontumi.

“Not at all. We are aware that in this country there are influences. If you are able to identify those influences and begin making amends, I think we build a better society for all of us to live in,” he added.

Chairman Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court found him guilty on six charges related to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi Forest in the Western Region.

The case involved Akonta Mining Limited, owned by Wontumi, and another accused person, Kwame Antwi. Prosecutors accused them of unlawfully assigning mineral rights and facilitating mining operations without the required approvals under Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act.

The apology comes amid calls for reconciliation and discussions surrounding possible presidential clemency for some convicted persons.