Wontumi apologises to Mahama, seeks Presidential clemency

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, has apologised to President John Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama regarding remarks he made about them during the campaign ahead of the 2024 general election. This apology was conveyed through his spokesperson, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, during an interview with Citi FM, while Wontumi was appealing for clemency following his conviction for illegal mining. Wontumi is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted over illegal mining activities in the Samreboi Forest.

According to Boakye-Danquah, the apology was offered as a gesture of goodwill and formed part of an appeal for the President to consider exercising his prerogative of mercy. Boakye-Danquah stated, "The first call is to render an apology, and I think that is important. Former Chairman renders an apology to him if, at some stage, the conversations went overboard, which was never intended." He insisted that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission that political differences influenced the legal process leading to Wontumi's conviction. Chairman Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment after Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court found him guilty on all six charges.