Lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have filed an application at the High Court seeking bail pending the hearing and determination of his appeal against his conviction and 20-year prison sentence.

The application follows the conviction and sentencing of the NPP stalwart, whose legal team has already lodged an appeal challenging both the verdict and the custodial sentence.

According to court documents, the defence is praying the High Court to admit Chairman Wontumi to bail while the appeal is being heard, arguing that the appeal raises substantial legal and factual issues that merit consideration.

His lawyers are also expected to argue that he is not a flight risk and will abide by any conditions the court may impose should the application be granted.

Under Ghanaian law, a person convicted by a lower court may apply for bail pending appeal. The decision, however, is entirely at the discretion of the appellate court, which considers factors such as the merits of the appeal, the likelihood of the applicant absconding, and whether there are exceptional circumstances that justify the grant of bail.

The High Court is expected to fix a date for the hearing of the application, after which it will determine whether Chairman Wontumi should be granted bail pending the outcome of his appeal.

The latest development marks another significant chapter in the high-profile legal battle involving the NPP regional chairman, a case that has generated widespread public and political interest across the country. The court’s ruling on the bail application is expected to be closely watched as the appeal process unfolds.