The Accra High Court will rule on November 4, 2026, on an application by former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for bail pending his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay fixed the date after hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The same judge convicted and sentenced Wontumi in July 2026.
The bail application was filed in August and was first scheduled for hearing on August 19, but the matter was adjourned until today’s hearing.
Wontumi was convicted of mining-related offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), linked to operations on the Samreboi concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited without the approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. GhanaTrends previously reported on Wontumi’s conviction and jail term on illegal mining charges.
Court to Rule on Wontumi’s Bail Pending Appeal of 20-Year Sentence on November 4 [VIDEO]
Wontumi bail pending appeal: what his lawyer argued
Counsel for Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, told the court that his client’s notice of appeal contains 19 grounds with a reasonable likelihood of success.
He said the grounds raise substantial legal questions, including how the Minerals and Mining Act should be interpreted and how accomplice evidence was treated at trial. He also argued that the trial judge failed to consider the Act as a whole.
Mr Atta Akyea said bail would allow Wontumi to help prepare his appeal and take part in the other criminal cases he is facing.
On the question of flight risk, he told the court that Wontumi complied with all bail conditions during the trial and that his passport is held by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Deputy Attorney-General opposes Wontumi bail
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who represented the State, urged the court to dismiss the application.
He argued that bail pending appeal is granted only in exceptional circumstances and that none had been shown. He described the 19 grounds as ordinary grounds that any appellant could raise.
Dr Srem-Sai also said Wontumi’s conduct during trial was not a reliable guide to whether he would abscond now. He argued that the possibility of further, consecutive sentences in two other pending criminal cases could give him an incentive to flee.
He distinguished the precedent of Fynn v The Republic, cited in support of bail, saying it involved shorter sentences and delays in preparing the appeal record. He also referred to a video in which Wontumi’s former lawyer allegedly discussed a plan to run over law enforcement officers to avoid arrest.
Wontumi case timeline and key figures
- Sentence: 20 years’ imprisonment
- Conviction: July 2026, Accra High Court (Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay)
- Bail application filed: August 2026; first listed for August 19
- Bail hearing: October 15, 2026
- Grounds of appeal: 19
- Ruling date: November 4, 2026
- Other pending trials: 2, including the Ghana EXIM Bank case
Status of Wontumi’s appeal at the Court of Appeal
When the judge asked about the progress of the appeal, Mr Atta Akyea said efforts were underway to compile the record of appeal for transmission to the Court of Appeal.
The appeal itself will be decided by the Court of Appeal. The High Court is only deciding whether Wontumi can be released while that process runs.
What the ruling means for Wontumi and the NPP
If bail is granted, Wontumi would leave custody under conditions set by the court while his appeal is pending. If it is refused, he will remain in prison serving his sentence until the Court of Appeal decides the case.
The ruling is being closely watched by NPP supporters in the Ashanti Region, where Wontumi was a prominent party figure, and by anti-galamsey campaigners who see the case as a test of the fight against illegal mining.
The decision also affects his other trials. He is facing charges in the Ghana EXIM Bank case, where he recently pleaded not guilty to amended charges.
What happens next in the Wontumi case
The High Court will deliver its ruling on the bail application on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Until then, Wontumi remains in custody.
Separately, the record of appeal is expected to be compiled and sent to the Court of Appeal, which will set a date to hear the 19 grounds. Updates on hearings are published by the Judicial Service of Ghana.
Key details at a glance
- Accra High Court to rule on Wontumi’s bail pending appeal on November 4, 2026.
- Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay heard the application on October 15, 2026.
- Wontumi is serving a 20-year sentence in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
- Samuel Atta Akyea says the 19 grounds of appeal have a reasonable chance of success.
- Deputy AG Dr Justice Srem-Sai says no exceptional circumstances justify bail.
- Wontumi’s passport is held by EOCO, according to his lawyer.
- He also faces two other criminal trials, including the EXIM Bank case.
FAQs
When will the court rule on Wontumi’s bail?
The Accra High Court will deliver its ruling on Wontumi’s bail pending appeal on November 4, 2026.
How many years was Chairman Wontumi sentenced to?
Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July 2026 after his conviction in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
Why is the Attorney-General opposing Wontumi’s bail?
The Deputy Attorney-General argues that no exceptional circumstances exist and that two other pending criminal trials could give Wontumi a reason to flee.
Chairman Wontumi will know on November 4 whether he can leave prison while he challenges his 20-year sentence. His lawyers point to 19 grounds of appeal and his record of complying with bail, while the State insists the high bar for post-conviction bail has not been met.
