Bernard Antwi, also known as Chairman Wontumi, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is the New Patriotic Party's chairman for the Ashanti Region.
His lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, said the sentence is too severe. He plans to appeal the decision in court.
Atta Akyea argued that the long prison term is meant to scare others from committing similar crimes. He believes this is not a good enough reason for such a harsh punishment.
The court handed down the sentence following charges related to illegal mining activities.
Further details about the specific charges and the court's reasoning were not immediately available.
The legal team will present their arguments for a reduced sentence during the appeal process.