Aspiring Asante Mampong MP candidate says incarceration is “not a good look” for NPP, calls for patience on appeal
NPP Council of Patrons member and aspiring Parliamentary Candidate for Asante Mampong, Madam Beatrice Owarewa Siaw, has visited the incarcerated Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, at Nsawam Prisons. She says he appeared “calm, level-headed and encouraged” despite his situation.
The visit comes less than two weeks after Chairman Wontumi was sentenced in connection with illegal mining charges.
“A Long Journey From Kumasi”
Speaking to the press after the visit on Tuesday, Madam Siaw said she made the trip from Kumasi specifically to check on the Chairman.
“Today I visited Chairman Wontumi. I’m coming all the way from Kumasi. It’s a long journey. You know the road is not the best,” she said.
“When I met him, he was doing well. He seemed encouraged, and he believes there will be another course of action that will be in his favor. He seems ready to fight. So I was grateful and delighted to see that he was doing well and was fine.”
She described their interaction as warm. “When he saw me, he was so enthusiastic and eager. He greeted me and told everybody, ‘This is my sister.’ So I was excited to see the Chairman come to me. He seemed calm and level-headed.”
Madam Siaw noted that Wontumi’s well-known mental strength means he does not easily show distress. “You know Chairman. If you know Chairman, he is mentally tough. So if something is bothering him, you wouldn’t be able to see it directly in his facial expression.”
“It’s Still Early”
The Asante Mampong parliamentary hopeful said it was still early days since the sentencing, and that may account for his demeanor.
“It’s also still in the early stages. He hasn’t been incarcerated for too long. It’s been less than two weeks, so his demeanor seemed okay.”
Raises Questions About The Trial And Witness Testimony
Madam Siaw commented on the circumstances of the conviction and compared aspects of Ghana’s judicial process to that of the United States, raising concerns about reliance on witness testimony.
“Ghana’s judicial system is a little different from the U.S. I’m not saying that thee judge didn’t do her job. I think she did an excellent job,” she said.
“But you have six witnesses, and out of the six, one person, the General Manager, made a comment. Maybe this is not the only reason for the judgment, but the one people are harping on is: why would one of the witnesses say that he was allowed to do illegal mining and then use the proceeds to reclaim the land, while Chairman said, ‘No, I went to do reclamation’?”
She questioned what may have influenced the testimony. “So you don’t know if, behind the scenes, the person was offered something or not. That’s why, to me, the constitution needs to be reviewed a bit, because then so many people will end up in prison just based on a comment.”
Madam Siaw acknowledged that state institutions likely did their due diligence. “I’m sure the Attorney General and the various security institutions all looked into it and investigated thoroughly. I’m sure they did their job. There are no loopholes.”
However, she added: “But one person’s comment — you never know what happened behind the scenes. Why did the person testify for the government? Was it under duress? Was it, ‘We need this conviction, or you will be the one to face judgment’?”
“This Was A Lesson Learned For All Of Ghana”
The Council of Patrons member said the case should serve as a lesson beyond the NPP.
“In some way, we in the public don’t get all the information privy to the lawyers and the judges involved. So this was a lesson learned not just for the NPP but for all of Ghana, and for what we say in the public domain as well.”
On the possibility of an appeal, she said the party would need solid grounds. “If you have someone as prominent as Chairman Wontumi, who has sacrificed relentlessly for the party, then by all means they should appeal for one of their own. However, you need a good reason to file an appeal. I’m not sure exactly what their reason will be, or what new evidence, or evidence contrary to what was presented in court, that they have. So let’s give it time and see what happens in the near future.”
“To Be Incarcerated Is Never A Good Thing”
Madam Siaw admitted the situation is difficult for the party, particularly in the Ashanti Region.
“To be incarcerated is never a good thing, even if you are unable to prove your innocence. It’s never a good thing. It becomes challenging. As citizens, we are only limited to the information that has been put out in the media, and that’s how we speculate and derive our own conclusions. So unfortunately, we don’t have all the information that came up during the trial.”
She said Wontumi’s absence will be felt. “It will impact us because Chairman Wontumi is, for lack of a better word, the face of the party. To have your entire Ashanti Regional Chairman incarcerated is not the best feeling, I’m sure, for the party, and it’s not a good look.”
“So some people may not vote because of that, and others are of the view that this is a political witch hunt, and that he wasn’t given the opportunity, or that the evidence presented wasn’t looked at thoroughly.”
Call For Unity Ahead of Elections
Despite the setback, Madam Siaw expressed optimism that the NPP will move forward and remain united.
“Whatever the case may be, I’m sure an appeal will come, but maybe not now. Maybe in the near future. For the NPP, I’m sure we will move forward with our campaigning for the regional and national elections. And let’s see if we can come together as a united front — as brothers and sisters and as family within the party.”
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving time at Nsawam Prisons following the recent judgment. Party officials are yet to announce the next steps regarding a potential appeal.