Embattled New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has extended an apology to President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama for comments he made during the heat of the 2024 election campaign.
The apology, according to his spokesperson, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, is part of efforts by the jailed politician to seek reconciliation and appeal for clemency.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi News, Mr Boakye-Danquah said Wontumi acknowledged that some of his political remarks may have gone beyond acceptable limits and wanted to make amends.
“The first call is to render an apology… if, at some stage, the conversations went overboard, which was never intended,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission that politics influenced Wontumi’s prosecution or conviction.
Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after the High Court found him guilty on six charges linked to illegal mining activities involving his company, Akonta Mining Limited, at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The case also involved Akonta Mining Limited and Kwame Antwi, with prosecutors accusing them of engaging in mining activities without the required approvals and unlawfully dealing with mineral rights on the concession.
Mr Boakye-Danquah said the appeal for forgiveness was aimed at promoting reconciliation and not reopening debates over the court’s decision.
