Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi
Five inmates allegedly attempted to poison the incarcerated former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, according to his spokesperson, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah.
Consequently, the Ghana Prisons Service has launched an investigation into the allegation after the claim was brought to its attention.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah told JoyNews that he was troubled when Chairman Wontumi allegedly informed him that five inmates had attempted to poison him about one or two weeks earlier.
“I was very troubled when he mentioned to me that about a week or two ago, five inmates attempted to poison him and the prison officers are looking into it,” he stated.
He, however, indicated that he did not know the motive behind the alleged attempt.
Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Chief Superintendent Abdul Latif, confirmed that the Service was investigating the claim to establish the facts surrounding the alleged incident.
“It’s something that the spokesperson of Wontumi drew the attention of the prison authorities to. But let me repeat that, it’s not a complaint coming from Wontumi himself directly to the prison authorities,” he said.
Chief Superintendent Latif said the Service was surprised by the allegation, but assured the public that Chairman Wontumi was safe and that there was no cause for concern about his security in prison.
He also rejected claims that five inmates had been transferred from their cells following the alleged incident, although he said he could not confirm that information.
The Prisons Service indicated that it would continue its investigations despite the unusual nature of the allegation.
“Let me state on record that I can’t even remember the last time we reported such an incident of inmates trying to poison fellow inmates or even officers,” Chief Superintendent Latif said.
He added that the Service had taken the allegation seriously and was investigating to establish the truth.
No Special Treatment
Chief Superintendent Latif also dismissed claims that Chairman Wontumi was receiving preferential treatment at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
He insisted that the former NPP regional chairman was subject to the same rules and regulations as other inmates.
“I can tell you that Wontumi is being subjected to the same rules and regulations that other prisoners are being subjected to. So, the claim that Wontumi is being given preferential treatment in prison is not true and cannot be true,” he said.
He cited overcrowding at the Nsawam Prison as part of the challenges confronting the facility.
Bail Pending Appeal
The allegation comes as Chairman Wontumi pursues legal action to overturn his 20-year prison sentence for mining-related offences.
He was convicted after the court found him guilty of permitting others to mine on his company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
A High Court in Accra has scheduled November 4, 2026, to decide whether to grant him bail pending appeal, which could allow him temporary release from prison while his appeal is determined.
His lawyers have filed a notice of appeal setting out 19 grounds challenging the conviction and sentence.
The application for bail pending appeal argues that the conviction was affected by serious legal errors and that exceptional circumstances justify granting him temporary release.
“The conviction proceeded upon grave errors of law which substantially affected the outcome of the trial, and the appeal discloses several exceptional circumstances warranting the exercise of this Honourable Court’s discretion in favour of the Applicant,” a portion of the application stated.
By Gibril Abdul Razak