The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the immediate acquittal and release of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Christine Tamakloe Attionu.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 30, and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party argued that if Madam Attionu’s conviction could be overturned despite what it described as overwhelming evidence against her, there was no justification for Chairman Wontumi to remain in prison.
The NPP maintained that Chairman Wontumi’s conviction and 20-year prison sentence with hard labour were politically motivated and not supported by sufficient evidence.
According to the party, his legal team has already filed more than 20 grounds of appeal before the Court of Appeal, challenging both his conviction and sentence.
“The contrast could not be starker,” the statement said. “If the one against whom a mountain of evidence was marshalled, and who was duly convicted after a full trial, has today been acquitted and discharged, on what conceivable basis does the State continue to keep Chairman Wontumi behind bars?”
The opposition party further claimed that Wontumi’s continued imprisonment exposes what it described as a “double standard” in the government’s handling of corruption-related cases.
The demand formed part of a broader statement in which the NPP condemned the Court of Appeal’s acquittal of Sedinam Attionu, describing the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and alleging that the country’s justice system has become politicised.
The party accused the Attorney-General of applying the law selectively and called for all former appointees of the previous NPP administration who are currently facing criminal prosecution to be discharged if the same standard is to be applied.
It also demanded that the Attorney-General publicly account for every case involving persons affiliated with the governing party that has been discontinued or withdrawn since January 2025.
Additionally, the NPP urged the Judicial Council and the leadership of the Judiciary to take urgent steps to restore public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.
The party concluded by reaffirming its commitment to pursuing every lawful avenue, including a possible review of the Court of Appeal’s decision at the Supreme Court, while insisting that the fight against corruption must be fair and free from political influence.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI