Wontumi sentenced to 20 years over illegal mining case

The Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra has convicted and sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment in a case involving alleged illegal mining activities on the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found Chairman Wontumi guilty alongside proceedings involving Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person, Kwame Antwi.

Before delivering the judgment, the court dismissed an application by the defence seeking to defer the ruling and refer aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.

The application was argued by lawyer Charles Boakye, who held brief for lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea. Mr Boakye told the court that Mr Atta Akyea was out of the country and expected to return on July 22. He further stated that the defence had filed an application on July 16 requesting a postponement of the judgment and a constitutional referral, with the motion scheduled to be heard on Monday.

Justice Kocuvie-Tay, however, ruled that the application lacked merit and proceeded to deliver the judgment.

The prosecution alleged that Akonta Mining Company Limited engaged in illegal mining activities on its concession at Samreboi and that the accused persons facilitated unlawful mining operations.

During his testimony on May 21, 2026, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum, identified in court as PW2, to undertake mining activities on the concession.

He told the court that Mr Okum had only been engaged to carry out land reclamation and establish coconut plantations on the concession, insisting that no authority had been granted for mining activities.

The case commenced after Chairman Wontumi honoured an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following a directive by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to investigate and prosecute the matter.