After about 11 months of legal tussle, the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Samuel Bright Mensah, gave a verdict earlier today.And the embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Boasiako, affectionately referred to as Chairman Wontumi, was given a 20-year jail term on charges of Illegal mining operations in Samreboi without a valid license, contravention of environmental regulations by engaging in mining activities that caused ecological damage possession and use of mining equipment without authorisation and failure to comply with Minerals Commission directives regarding community safety and environmental standards.

Following the sentence, the leadership of the party convened in an emergency meeting to discuss his sentence and to determine what the next course of action would be; the General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua, announced on his Facebook page.

“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), together with our Flagbearer and the Party’s legal team, is currently in a meeting to thoroughly review the judgement delivered by the Court in the case involving our Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, concerning the Samreboi mining matter, and to determine the appropriate next course of action”, parts of the post announced.

It added that,

“The party will communicate its official position and the decisions arising from these deliberations in due course,” the statement noted.

Mr Kodua Frimpong also appealed to party members to remain calm and united as the leadership deliberates on the matter.

He urged NPP supporters to rally behind the leadership during what he described as a challenging moment, stressing the need for discipline, unity, and steadfastness in protecting the values and interests of the party.

The NPP said it will announce the outcome of the meeting and its official position after the deliberations are concluded.

“In the meantime, I respectfully urge all members of our great Party to rally behind the leadership during this challenging moment. Let us remain calm, united, disciplined, and steadfast in our commitment to the values and interests of the New Patriotic Party”, the Secretary added.