United Party Spokesperson Solomon Owusu has cast doubt on the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) public display of support for its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako despite the party insisting he is a “political prisoner”of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, senior NPP officials, led by the party's 2028 flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, visited Wontumi at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to express solidarity following his 20-year prison sentence for facilitating illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. 

Affectionately called Wontumi, his legal team confirmed they will appeal both the conviction and sentence.

In an exclusive interview with Classfmonline.com, Mr Owusu said the party's recent show of support was inconsistent with its conduct throughout Wontumi's trial.

"I have not seen him in court with any notable faces of the political party since he started going to court in October 2025," he said.

He argued that the NPP actions are a mere public relations exercise designed to create the impression that they cared about Wontumi.

"It is just to create an impression in the minds of people when, as a matter of fact, they don't care," he said.

Mr Owusu, who was a former NPP member, added that he still maintains close ties with many members of the party, hence stressed he was speaking on authority.

"I still have a significant number of family and friends within the party," he said.

He criticised what he described as "hypocrisy" in politics, saying "today's politicians" privately acknowledge what they believe to be true but publicly adopt different positions.

According to him, the circumstances surrounding Wontumi's legal representation also undermined the party's claims of solidarity. 

Mr Owusu claimed that former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame stepped away from the case before it went to trial, and alleged that Wontumi struggled to secure legal representation before eventually engaging lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi.

"Today, those who are speaking call themselves the legal team of the NPP. Where were they when Wontumi was struggling to get a lawyer? If they really cared about him, they would have marshalled all the legal talent within the party to defend him in court but the man was struggling," he said.

He also recalled that, during a campaign tour in the Asante Akyem area a few years ago, Wontumi had publicly alleged that NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua was working against him.

"So how can all these people, all of a sudden, be very much worried over what has happened to him?" he asked.

Mr Owusu commended the trial judge for imposing the 20-year custodial sentence, saying he believed future generations would also view the decision as justified.

He urged Wontumi to take lessons from this experience.