Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah seen crying after Chairman Wontumi's 20-year prison sentence
via GhanaWeb2 min read
A video circulating on social media shows Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former government spokesperson on Governance and Security, shedding tears following the sentencing of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi. Chairman Wontumi, the NPP's Ashanti Regional Chairman, was sentenced by an Accra High Court on Monday, July 20, 2026, to two concurrent 20-year prison terms with hard labor. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵120,000, with an additional three-year custodial sentence if the fine is not paid. The court found him guilty on all six counts in the Samreboi illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited. Akonta Mining Company Limited was fined GH₵180,000, and the court ordered the confiscation of excavators, water pumps, firearms, and GH₵157,000 in cash seized during investigations, citing severe environmental damage as a factor in the sentencing.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing continued legal challenges as the state has reportedly rejected his plea bargain offer in the ongoing EXIM Bank fraud trial. According to a TV3 report, the negotiations failed because Wontumi's proposal did not meet expectations. Wontumi, who was previously sentenced to 20 years for illegal mining, and two others are accused of defrauding the Ghana Export-Import Bank of approximately GH¢14.3 million to GH¢30 million. The alleged scheme involved presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution. Wontumi's legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea-bargaining process, and both parties had sought time to explore a settlement. Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited, and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stem from events around 2018 involving a loan or facility from EXIM Bank. The court had adjourned the matter on June 18, 2026, to allow for initial plea talks.
The Ghana Police Service rescued nine human trafficking victims and arrested 10 suspects in an intelligence-led operation targeting an alleged cyber-enabled fraud syndicate in Mataheko-Afienya, Tema Region. Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, Lydia Yaako Donkor, stated that the operation was conducted by the Tema Regional Police Command's Regional Police Intelligence Directorate after weeks of intelligence gathering. The suspects were apprehended on July 3, 2026, at an apartment believed to be their operational base, where police seized 28 laptop computers and nine mobile phones. Preliminary investigations identified Collins Francis Olai Ojo as the alleged syndicate leader, accused of coordinating activities and facilitating the movement of nine Nigerian nationals from Nigeria to Ghana for exploitation through cyber-enabled fraudulent activities. The rescued victims are now in a secure location receiving support. The arrested suspects include Collins Francis Olai Ojo, Mathew Balogun, Jahid Bello, Abdul Rahman Nufizi, Talent Sinivi, Pray Morrison, Lawal Abdul Aziz, David Ogoguna, Gift Prince, and Kingsley Honest. Olai Ojo has been arraigned before the Accra High Court and remanded into police custody.
President John Dramani Mahama met with Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance ALMA, in Accra to discuss strengthening public health systems in Africa. The discussions focused on the Accra Reset, President Mahama's vision for an Africa that manufactures its own vaccines, builds resilient health systems, and reduces reliance on foreign aid. President Mahama also highlighted Ghana's Free Primary Health Care programme, which provides free basic healthcare services at CHPS compounds and polyclinics without requiring a National Health Insurance Scheme card, as part of Ghana's efforts towards Universal Health Coverage. Byanyima praised President Mahama's leadership in promoting health sovereignty, recognizing its importance for Ghana, Africa, and the Global South. This meeting took place as Accra hosts the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health, where African leaders are convening to strategize on strengthening health systems, promoting equity, and improving healthcare outcomes across the continent.