Governance expert and policy analyst Prof. Enoch Antwi says the conviction of Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, should be viewed as a legal matter rather than a political one.
Speaking on TV3, Prof. Antwi said the offences for which Wontumi was convicted were related to mining activities and not his political position within the New Patriotic Party.
“The bottom line is that he was convicted on six counts, legally on mining charges, not political charges, by a High Court,” he said.
According to him, Wontumi’s status as an NPP regional chairman and a contender for the party’s national chairmanship does not change the nature of the charges brought against him.
“He wasn’t convicted on any political charge. He was convicted on mining charges,” Prof. Antwi stated.
While acknowledging that some people have questioned the timing of the prosecution, he said that issue should not be confused with the offences determined by the court.
“I’m saying we should be able to separate politics from corrupt issues,” he said.
Prof. Antwi argued that public discussion should focus on the legal process, the evidence presented and the court’s findings, rather than framing the conviction as a political contest.
