Deputy Attorney-General Defends State Prosecutions as Chairman Wontumi Faces 20-Year Prison Term

26th July•3 min read•29 sources

Ghana's legal landscape is currently dominated by high-profile prosecutions involving members of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, as Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai moves to defend the integrity of several ongoing cases. Central to these developments is the conviction of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP. Wontumi was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Accra High Court for his involvement in illegal mining activities in Samreboi. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who delivered the sentence, emphasized the need for a strong deterrent against environmental crimes, even as Wontumi's legal team, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, prepares an appeal. Appiah-Kubi claimed that his client anticipated the conviction but argued the court erred by failing to distinguish between the individual and the mining company involved.

In tandem with the Wontumi conviction, the state is aggressively pursuing the prosecution of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB). Dr. Srem-Sai has dismissed claims that the case against Adu-Boahene is complex, describing it instead as a straightforward matter of misappropriating public funds. The prosecution alleges that GHS 49 million intended for national security defense equipment was diverted into private accounts and used for personal acquisitions, including luxury cars and real estate. Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, face multiple charges including stealing and money laundering. The Deputy Attorney-General accused the defense of orchestrating a media campaign to misrepresent the facts, asserting that the evidence clearly shows the funds were not loan repayments as claimed.

Further legal heat is being felt by other party affiliates, including NPP communicator Kweku Osei Korankye Asiedu, known as KOKA. An Accra Circuit Court recently issued a bench warrant for Asiedu's arrest after he failed to appear to answer charges of publishing false news and issuing death threats against staff of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). Asiedu allegedly threatened to kill EOCO officers in a viral video, claiming to know their private residences. Simultaneously, Dr. Srem-Sai has refuted claims by Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a prominent NPP figure, who suggested he was not questioned by EOCO regarding GHS 55 million in financial irregularities linked to the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD). The Deputy AG insisted that Aboagye was fully aware of the reasons for his interrogation, urging the public to remain skeptical of statements made by suspects under investigation.

The political ramifications of these legal battles are beginning to surface as the nation looks toward the 2028 elections. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), has warned that the unresolved controversies surrounding former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta could severely damage the NPP’s future electoral prospects. Amoah called for total accountability regarding Ofori-Atta’s tenure, despite a U.S. court recently granting the former minister permanent residency amidst ongoing corruption investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Additionally, Deputy Majority Leader Kwaku Ricketts Hagan has signaled that architects of the 'Gold for Oil' policy will soon face legal consequences, labeling the program as a failure that cost the nation millions of cedis without providing relief to citizens. These actions underscore a period of heightened scrutiny as the current administration under President John Mahama continues to address the legacy of the previous government.

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Deputy Attorney-General Defends State Prosecutions as Chairman Wontumi Faces 20-Year Prison Term

More from politics

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National Lottery Authority Urges Staff to End Strike Over 17% Salary Increase Demand