The Office of the Attorney General has opposed a bail application filed by Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The Attorney General’s Office filed an affidavit on Tuesday, August 11, asking the High Court to reject Wontumi’s request for bail while he appeals his conviction and sentence.
Wontumi’s lawyers went to the High Court on Friday, August 7, to ask the court to grant him bail as he waits for his appeal to be heard and determined.
However, the Attorney General has argued that Wontumi should not be granted bail. The AG’s Office says the grounds of his appeal do not show that there is a reasonable chance that the appeal will succeed.
In its response, the Attorney General’s Office also challenged several claims made by Wontumi in the affidavit supporting his bail application.
The AG maintained that the grounds of appeal were not strong enough to convince the court that Wontumi had a reasonable prospect of winning his appeal.
The Office of the Attorney General stated that “the grounds of appeal contained in the Exhibit CB2, the appeal, contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the affidavit in support of the motion, discloses no reasonable chance of success”.
The Attorney General’s opposition also raised concerns about whether Wontumi would remain in Ghana if he is granted bail.
The AG’s Office believes that Wontumi could leave the country while his appeal is pending and has therefore described him as a significant flight risk.
It has asked the court to consider this concern when deciding whether to grant him bail.
The Attorney General stated that “That contrary to the averments in Paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the affidavit in support of the motion, the Applicant constitutes a significant flight risk.”
