Chairman Wontumi Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison Over Illegal Mining

The Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of illegal mining-related offences committed on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court shortly after 11:40 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, bringing to a close one of Ghana’s most closely followed illegal mining prosecutions.

In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Should the fine remain unpaid, Wontumi will serve an additional three-year prison sentence. However, the court ruled that the prison sentence and the default sentence attached to the fine will run concurrently.

Justice Kocuvie-Tay had earlier convicted Chairman Wontumi on all six charges brought against him. The offences included assigning mineral rights without the approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.

The court noted that the offences attract a statutory prison term ranging between 15 and 25 years, and after considering the circumstances of the case, imposed a 20-year sentence.

The court also delivered its ruling against Akonta Mining Company Limited, the company linked to Chairman Wontumi. Unlike its controlling director, the company escaped a custodial sentence after the court considered mitigating factors. Instead, it was ordered to pay a financial penalty through the prescribed penalty units.

Before sentencing, defence lawyers led by Samuel Atta Akyea appealed to the court to exercise mercy and impose the minimum sentence of 15 years. The defence argued that Chairman Wontumi had shown remorse throughout the proceedings, cooperated with investigators, honoured every court appearance, and had no previous criminal record.

The lawyers further described him as a devoted family man who had made meaningful contributions to both his community and the country, urging the court to consider these factors in mitigation.

Despite the plea, the court concluded that the gravity of the offences warranted a 20-year custodial sentence after weighing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.

Background

The case stems from a major anti-illegal mining operation conducted by the Ghana Police Service at the Samreboi concession on April 16 and 17, 2025.

During the operation, police arrested Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 other suspects. Authorities also seized 25 operational excavators, firearms, vehicles, and GH¢157,000 in cash from the mining site.

According to the prosecution, Chairman Wontumi, as the owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, permitted mining activities to take place on the concession without obtaining the mandatory approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The prosecution maintained that the mining operations violated Ghana’s mining laws and that Wontumi played a direct role in facilitating the unlawful activities.

However, the defence rejected the allegations, insisting that Chairman Wontumi never authorised illegal mining on the concession. They argued that individuals found at the site had been engaged solely for land reclamation and coconut plantation activities, not for mining.

Meanwhile, the Republic has also applied for a forfeiture order covering all items seized during the operation, including the excavators, firearms, vehicles and the GH¢157,000 in cash.

The High Court is expected to deliver a separate ruling on that forfeiture application at a later date.

Source:myjoyonline