Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has appeared before the High Court in Accra on charges linked to illegal mining operations allegedly conducted by his company, Akonta Mining Limited.
Prosecutors say Wontumi, along with two others – co-owner and director Kwame Antwi, who is currently on the run, and Akonta Mining itself – are facing six counts, including assigning a mining concession without ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations.
The charges stem from mining activities said to have taken place at Samreboi in the Western Region. A state security operation on 26 April 2025 reportedly uncovered active mining on the Akonta concession, leading to the arrest of 29 people.
Investigators say one of those arrested, Michael Ayisi Gyedu, told officers he had been authorised by a man named Henry Okum to oversee the site. Okum is alleged to have claimed he received permission directly from Chairman Wontumi to mine on the land, which he believed belonged to the politician.
The prosecution argues that Wontumi granted the authorisation without first seeking approval from the minister responsible for mining, as required by law.
Security officers seized an assortment of weapons, machinery, and cash during the raid, including eight pump-action guns, four machetes, 310 cartridges, 25 excavators, and GH¢157,000 in cash. Items suspected to be gold were also retrieved.
Prosecutors say they will ask the court to forfeit all valuable items seized from the site.
Wontumi, who maintains his innocence, is expected to enter a plea before Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay at the Criminal Division of the High Court. He arrived in court on Tuesday morning accompanied by his lawyer as the case was set to be called.
