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 First Lady Lordina Mahama over remarks he made during the campaign ahead of the 2024 general election.
The apology comes as Chairman Wontumi seeks clemency following his conviction and 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining activities in the Samreboi Forest.
His spokesperson, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, conveyed the apology during an interview with Citi FM, describing it as a gesture of goodwill and part of an appeal for the President to consider exercising the prerogative of mercy.
“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,” Mr Boakye-Danquah said.
He, however, rejected suggestions that the apology amounted to an admission that political differences between Chairman Wontumi and President Mahama had influenced the legal proceedings.
“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 said.
He added that the appeal for forgiveness was intended to promote reconciliation rather than suggest political interference in the prosecution.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court found him guilty on all six charges brought against him.
He was prosecuted alongside Akonta Mining Limited and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, over illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
According to the prosecution, the accused unlawfully assigned mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitated mining operations without the required authorisation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act.
