A fresh controversy has emerged over the conviction of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after party member and lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi claimed the politician knew the outcome of his case before the Accra High Court delivered its judgment.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints programme, Mr. Appiah-Kubi alleged that Chairman Wontumi had prior knowledge that he would be found guilty and even disclosed the sentence he expected to receive before the court pronounced its decision.
According to Mr. Appiah-Kubi, Wontumi informed him that he anticipated a 20-year prison sentence, prompting him to advise that an appeal should immediately be pursued if the court imposed such a punishment.
“Chairman Wontumi had prior information that he would be convicted,” Mr. Appiah-Kubi said. “He told me the content of the judgment. He told me that he will be jailed for twenty years.”
The lawyer also questioned the basis of the High Court’s decision, insisting that the evidence presented during the trial did not support the conviction.
He explained that the appeal would primarily challenge the judgment on grounds of company law, arguing that the legal personality of a company is distinct from that of its shareholders or directors.
“The evidence on the ground does not support the judgment. Per the company law, the company is different from the owner or shareholder. This will form the basis of our appeal,” he stated.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s remarks are expected to fuel debate over the circumstances surrounding the case, as the NPP prepares to challenge the High Court’s ruling through the appellate process.
