TEMA, Ghana, 26th July: Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has dismissed warnings by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that “the tables will turn” following the conviction and sentencing of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Chairman Wontumi was sentenced by the Accra High Court on July 20, 2026, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour and fined GHS 120,000 after being convicted on charges relating to illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining in Samreboi.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme, Mr. Koomson expressed surprise at the Minority Caucus and the NPP’s strong opposition to the court’s ruling, insisting that the case should not be politicised.
According to him, Chairman Wontumi was convicted for offences involving unauthorised mining operations and the illegal assignment of mineral rights under the Minerals and Mining Act ,offences that have contributed to environmental degradation.
He argued that the sentence reflects the strict enforcement of the law and accountability for environmental destruction, stressing that it should not be described as political persecution or imprisonment.
Mr. Koomson further noted that Chairman Wontumi is still facing additional legal proceedings, with other cases and dockets reportedly pending before the courts. He said the former NPP regional chairman should “pray very hard,” as further legal outcomes could follow.
Drawing comparisons with previous administrations, Mr. Koomson recalled that several prominent figures, including veteran lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, were imprisoned during the NPP’s time in government.
He pointed out that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did not label those convictions as politically motivated, and therefore urged the NPP to refrain from portraying Chairman Wontumi’s conviction as political imprisonment.
He also claimed that some members of the NPP are privately pleased with Chairman Wontumi’s conviction despite the party’s public show of solidarity.
Responding to warnings from some NPP figures that an NPP government would, in future, prosecute members of the NDC in return, Mr. Koomson insisted that “no tables will turn.”
He urged the governing NDC to remain focused on delivering on its mandate instead of being distracted by what he described as the opposition’s diversionary tactics.
He further advised the NDC to strengthen and adequately equip its grassroots structures, arguing that while the government is working to revive an economy it inherited in poor condition, it must also consolidate its political base.
According to Mr. Koomson, strengthening the party’s grassroots will help the NDC withstand opposition pressure and maintain public confidence, adding that the government’s priority should remain governance and economic recovery rather than engaging in political retaliation.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
