The Office of the Attorney General has opposed a Wontumi bail application, urging the High Court to reject a request by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The Attorney General’s opposition was contained in an affidavit filed on Tuesday, August 11, in response to the bail application submitted by the NPP executive.
Wontumi’s lawyers had on Friday, August 7, approached the High Court seeking an order granting their client bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal against his conviction and sentence.
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However, the Attorney General has urged the court to dismiss the Wontumi bail application, arguing that the grounds contained in his appeal do not demonstrate a reasonable prospect of success.
In its affidavit opposing the application, the Office of the Attorney General challenged several claims made by Wontumi in the affidavit supporting his bail request.
The AG maintained that the grounds of appeal were insufficient to establish that the appeal had a reasonable chance of succeeding.
The Office 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 prosecution’s position is a key part of its opposition to the Wontumi bail application, which seeks to secure his release while his appeal is pending.
The Attorney General’s opposition also focuses on concerns about Wontumi’s ability and willingness to remain within the jurisdiction during the appeal process.
The AG argues that the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman constitutes a significant flight risk and has asked the court to consider the factor when determining whether to grant bail.
“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,” the Attorney General stated.
The prosecution is therefore asking the High Court to refuse the Wontumi bail application because his appeal has no reasonable prospect of success and that he poses a significant flight risk.
Wontumi filed the bail application after his lawyers formally initiated an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
The latest development means the High Court will have to consider the arguments from both sides before determining whether to grant bail pending the outcome of the appeal.
The Attorney General’s opposition has added a new dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings involving the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, with the prosecution insisting that the conditions necessary for granting bail have not been established.