, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has refuted claims that his client has made any plea bargain offers to the Office of the Attorney-General.){kind=link}
The lawyer for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has refuted claims that his client has made any plea bargain offers to the Office of the Attorney-General.
Legal counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi described the allegations as baseless and premature, explaining that discussions about a plea bargain are entirely out of place at this stage of the case.
“My client has not done anything like that. It is too early to even talk about a plea bargain when the case has not advanced to that point,” Appiah-Kubi stated.
He further noted that the defence team is currently awaiting the Attorney-General’s next legal steps before determining their subsequent actions in court.
The lawyer’s remarks come in response to recent revelations by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who disclosed during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday that his office had received several offers related to the ongoing prosecution of Chairman Wontumi.
Dr. Ayine, however, maintained that all such offers were rejected, emphasizing that any plea bargain arrangement would only be entertained under the supervision of a competent court.
“No deal has been cut, and no deal will be cut except under the auspices of a court of competent jurisdiction,” he asserted, adding that no political or external influence has interfered with his prosecutorial decisions.
Chairman Wontumi is currently facing prosecution over alleged illegal mining (galamsey) activities linked to Akonta Mining Limited. He stands accused of operating without a valid license, assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval, and facilitating unlicensed mining operations in the Samreboi Forest Reserve in the Western Region.