Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is in good health and settling into the Nsawam Medium Security Prison following his admission to begin serving his prison sentence, his campaign manager, George Boahen Oduro, has said.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, July 21, Mr. Oduro disclosed that he and four others visited the prison after Wontumi was admitted on Monday at about 4:00 p.m. He said the NPP regional chairman had begun serving his sentence and was adjusting well to the prison environment.
“This morning we paid him a visit and as I speak to you now, he has started serving his sentence. He was admitted yesterday around 4 p.m. and he is at Nsawam as we speak,” he said.
Mr. Oduro commended officers of the Ghana Prisons Service for their professionalism, explaining that Wontumi was undergoing the mandatory admission and profiling procedures for newly admitted inmates when they arrived, which initially prevented the delegation from seeing him.
He said after informing prison authorities that they had brought essential personal items for Wontumi, his younger brother was granted access to deliver them. According to Mr. Oduro, Wontumi’s brother later confirmed that he was in good health.
“He said he is very well. He’s okay and everything is fine,” he stated.
Mr. Oduro clarified that the temporary restriction on access was solely due to the admission process and not a denial of visitation rights. He added that prison officials advised the delegation to return on Wednesday, when Wontumi would be available for regular visits after the completion of the profiling procedures.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced by the High Court in Accra on Monday to 20 years’ imprisonment in the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count, while Akonta Mining Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units on each of two counts after being convicted.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay convicted Wontumi on Counts One and Four and Akonta Mining Limited on Counts Three and Six, ruling that the prosecution had proved the essential elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.