A renowned legal scholar has dismissed claims that embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, qualifies as a political prisoner following his conviction and 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining activities.
Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei Atua, a Professor of International Law at the University of Ghana, made this assertion during an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, where he offered a detailed legal analysis of the controversial case.
“Fairly Decided by the Courts”
Prof Appiagyei Atua, who took time to review portions of the trial judge’s judgment, expressed confidence in the judicial process, describing the ruling as thorough and legally sound.
“Having listened to, well, not much of the discussion going on, but having had the time to read just portions of the judgments, I come to the conclusion that clearly this was a decision that was fairly decided by the courts,” he stated.
The legal academic praised the presiding judge for exercising considerable care in arriving at the verdict, particularly acknowledging the political sensitivity surrounding the case.
“In my opinion, the decision was fair and square. It is a very good decision, and the judge took time, I think probably because of the political context in which the decision and the case came about,” he explained.
He further commended the judge’s meticulous approach to evaluating the evidence before delivering the ruling.
“She made sure that all the evidence is tested, and the decision that she came to is, I think, a decision that should be applauded,” Prof Appiagyei Atua added.
Defining “Political Prisoner”
When host Samson Lardy Anyenini asked whether Wontumi could legitimately be considered a political prisoner, the professor responded emphatically in the negative.
“Not at all. I think the whole idea of a political prisoner is totally blown out of proportion. There is no connection at all between what Wontumi did or what he has done and the claim that he is a political prisoner,” he asserted.
Prof Appiagyei Atua proceeded to provide a comprehensive explanation of the legal and political definition of a political prisoner, distinguishing it from ordinary criminal convictions.
He explained that the concept applies strictly to individuals who are persecuted or imprisoned for expressing dissenting political views, advocating for democracy or human rights, or challenging those in power — not for committing criminal offences.
“If you are a political prisoner, it means that you have not committed any offence and that you have come up with some thoughts and ideas that challenge the powers that be, and therefore you are speaking truth to power and you are challenging orthodoxy… and therefore you are being silenced,” he elaborated.
The professor clarified that in such cases, individuals are targeted specifically because of their political beliefs rather than any criminal conduct.
“That is where, whether they put you in prison or they try to hound you or they try to force you out of the country into exile, that is where you can talk about somebody as a political prisoner.”
Applying this definition to Wontumi’s situation, the legal academic concluded that the case falls far short of meeting the threshold.
“So there is no way that we can term Mr Wontumi’s case as a case of political prisoners, not in any sense at all,” he stated firmly.
Criticism of NPP’s Narrative
Prof Appiagyei Atua also took aim at the NPP’s response to Wontumi’s conviction, criticising the party for what he described as an inappropriate characterisation of the case.
“I think NPP went below the belt by drawing that conclusion,” he said, suggesting that the party’s framing of Wontumi as a political prisoner was both legally inaccurate and politically opportunistic.
Background of the Case
Chairman Wontumi was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Accra court following his involvement in illegal mining activities, commonly referred to in Ghana as “galamsey.” The conviction has sparked significant debate within political circles, with the NPP expressing strong dissatisfaction with the ruling and framing it as politically motivated.
The case has also drawn attention to the government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining, a major environmental and economic issue in Ghana. Wontumi’s status as a high-ranking party official has added a layer of political complexity to the legal proceedings.
Conclusion
Prof Appiagyei Atua’s analysis provides a counter-narrative to claims of political persecution, reinforcing the principle that individuals convicted of criminal offences — regardless of their political affiliations — cannot automatically be classified as political prisoners. His comments underscore the importance of distinguishing between legitimate judicial outcomes and politically motivated persecution, a distinction he argues is critical for maintaining public trust in Ghana’s legal system.
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