Wontumi not confirmed among Mahama’s 863 pardoned prisoners – Palgrave

Dr Palgrave Boakye Danquah, spokesperson for businessman and former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, says the legal team has not received official confirmation that Wontumi is among the 863 convicted persons granted presidential pardon by President John Dramani Mahama.

President Mahama announced the exercise on October 5, 2026, as part of activities to commemorate Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary. The pardon was granted under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution following consultation with the Council of State.

The beneficiaries fall into several categories, including first offenders, persons aged 70 and above, seriously ill prisoners, and individuals whose sentences have been commuted. The exercise includes 819 first offenders granted outright release, 13 persons aged 70 and above, six seriously ill persons, two persons under special recommendations and three cases considered through petitions. Eleven death sentences have also been commuted to life imprisonment, while six life sentences have been reduced to 20-year definite terms.

However, the Presidency's announcement did not publish the names of individual beneficiaries, leaving uncertainty over whether Wontumi is among those covered.

Speaking on the development, Dr Boakye Danquah said Wontumi's team was waiting for official communication from the relevant authorities before drawing any conclusions.

“We don’t have the fine details yet and so if we are yet to be communicated to, we will let the public know. Our prayer and consideration will be that if we would have our name anywhere at all, it would be within the Special Recommendation or Petition category,” he said.

Dr Boakye Danquah said the team's immediate focus remains securing bail for Wontumi pending the determination of his appeal.

Wontumi's bail application has been adjourned to October 15, 2026, with his legal team seeking his release pending the outcome of the appeal against his conviction and sentence.

“We are just praying that the appeal goes through and also we are praying that the bail pending the appeal goes through,” Dr Boakye Danquah said.

Wontumi is serving a 20-year prison sentence following his conviction in an illegal mining-related case. His legal team has challenged the conviction and sentence and is pursuing an appeal.

For now, there is no official confirmation that Wontumi is among the 863 beneficiaries of President Mahama's exercise of the prerogative of mercy.