The High Court in Accra will on November 4 deliver its ruling on an application by the former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for bail pending appeal against his 20-year jail term for facilitating illegal mining.

His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, argued that the 19 grounds of appeal have strong prospects of success and that his client’s release would help in preparing the appeal and defending another criminal case.

However, Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai opposed the application, arguing that no exceptional circumstances had been established to justify bail.

He also described Chairman Wontumi as a flight risk, citing two other criminal cases he is facing.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako is in jail facing a 20-year sentence after the Accra High Court convicted him on illegal mining-related offences connected to his concession at Samreboi in the Western Region