Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John-Peter Amewu has expressed solidarity with New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard 'Wontumi' Antwi Boasiako following his conviction and 20-year custodial sentence over illegal mining-related offences.

In a statement dated July 22, 2026, Mr Amewu, a former NPP Regional Chairman for the Volta Region, said he respected the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, but noted that this also included the right to express concern where a sentence appeared "severe, shocking, or capable of raising legitimate questions about proportionality, fairness, and the broader administration of justice."

He described Wontumi as a colleague he had worked closely with in rebuilding the NPP ahead of the 2016 elections, and said a 20-year sentence with hard labour was "a matter of grave national concern."

Mr Amewu welcomed the decision to pursue an appeal and urged party members and Ghanaians to remain calm and respectful of the judicial process.

The full statement is below:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH CHAIRMAN BERNARD ANTWI BOASIAKO

22 July 2026

I have received with deep shock and profound concern the news of the conviction and custodial sentence imposed on Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party.

As a citizen of Ghana, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and a long-standing member of the New Patriotic Party tradition, I wish to state clearly that I respect the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the constitutional processes available to every citizen. Ghana’s democracy can only survive when all persons, regardless of political standing, remain subject to the law.

However, respect for the rule of law also includes the right to express concern where a sentence appears severe, shocking, or capable of raising legitimate questions about proportionality, fairness, and the broader administration of justice.

Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako is not just a political figure to me. He is a colleague and a person I have worked closely with in the service of the New Patriotic Party. In the period leading to the 2016 general elections, when I served as the Regional Chairman of the NPP in the Volta Region, I worked closely with Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako and many others across the country to help reorganise, mobilise, and strengthen the party after the painful loss of power in 2008. Those were difficult years for the party, and many of us gave our time, energy, resources, and commitment to bring the NPP back to power through constitutional and democratic means.

It is against this personal and political background that I express my solidarity with Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako and his family at this difficult moment.

Illegal mining remains one of the most serious environmental and governance challenges facing our country. No patriotic Ghanaian can support the destruction of our rivers, forests, farmlands, and communities. The fight against illegal mining must be firm, lawful, and non-partisan. At the same time, the fight must be conducted in a manner that preserves justice, proportionality, due process, and public confidence in the legal system.

A sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment with hard labour is a matter of grave national concern. It affects not only the individual concerned, but also raises broader questions about how Ghana balances environmental protection, criminal accountability, judicial discretion, political neutrality, and humane justice.

I therefore welcome the decision to pursue the appropriate appellate processes. The appeal courts exist precisely to review questions of law, proportionality, sentencing discretion, and possible errors in principle. I urge all party members, sympathisers, and concerned citizens to remain calm, disciplined, and respectful of the judicial process while the matter is pursued through the proper legal channels.

My solidarity with Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako is not a rejection of the rule of law. Rather, it is a call for the rule of law to operate fully, fairly, transparently, and proportionately.

At this difficult moment, I extend my prayers and support to Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, his family, his colleagues in the Ashanti Region, and the wider New Patriotic Party family. I also call on all Ghanaians to reflect soberly on the state of our justice system, our democracy, and our common duty to protect Ghana without sacrificing fairness and human dignity.

May justice be done, and may Ghana remain united, lawful, and peaceful. 

Signed,

John-Peter Amewu

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources

Former NPP Regional Chairman, Volta Region