Bernard Antwi Boasiako bail ruling delayed by JUSAG strike

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), faces a delay in his bail application ruling at the High Court. The postponement is a direct result of the nationwide strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), which has paralyzed court operations across the country. Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, is seeking bail while he appeals a 20-year prison sentence handed down for mining-related offences.

The industrial action by JUSAG began on November 2, 2026, stemming from unresolved salary disputes and grievances regarding working conditions. The strike has effectively shut down most judicial activities, with the exception of the Supreme Court. Consequently, the High Court could not sit to deliver the anticipated ruling on Wontumi's temporary release, leaving his legal team and supporters in a state of uncertainty as they wait for judicial services to resume.

Wontumi’s current legal battle follows his conviction on July 20, 2026, for mining-related offences. The court sentenced him to two decades in prison, a verdict his lawyers are now vigorously contesting through the appellate system. In the appeal process, his legal counsel has argued that the initial conviction was marred by legal errors and are pushing for his release on bail while the higher court reviews the merits of the case.

The resolution of the bail application now depends entirely on the outcome of negotiations between JUSAG leadership and the government. Until the judicial staff return to their posts, all cases at the High Court level, including high-profile matters like Wontumi's, will remain in limbo. The public and political observers are closely watching the situation, as the ongoing strike continues to disrupt the administration of justice across Ghana.