The lead counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi, has explained the reasons behind his client’s decision to pursue plea bargaining.
“Opting for plea bargaining does not mean Chairman Wontumi has admitted guilt. Rather, he is taking advantage of provisions under Ghana’s amended plea bargaining law, which many Ghanaians are still unaware of”.
Speaking in an interview with Kweku Dawuro on movement in the morning show, Lawyer Appiah Kubi stated that the Plea Bargaining Law was introduced through amendments to the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act and allows accused persons to negotiate a resolution to criminal proceedings under specific conditions.
“If we look at Section 162A of the law, which provides for plea bargaining, and the principle is consistent with Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees that every person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
”Chairman Wontumi is not seeking plea bargaining because he has been found guilty,” he said.
“He is merely taking advantage of the provisions of the law to explore a legal avenue that could bring the matter before the court to a conclusion.”
”The decision should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing but rather as the exercise of a legal right available under Ghana’s criminal justice system,” he stressed.