The Accra High Court has found Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, guilty in the illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The judgment was delivered by Criminal Court 4 of the High Court, which has been hearing the case involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and a second accused person, Kwame Antwi.
Before delivering the verdict, the court dismissed an application by the defence seeking to halt the judgment and refer aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.
Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application lacked merit after lawyers informed the court that lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, was outside the country and expected to return on July 22.
Holding brief for Mr Atta Akyea, lawyer Charles Boakye told the court that the defence had filed the application on July 16, seeking a postponement of the judgment pending the determination of constitutional issues by the Supreme Court.
He noted that the application had been scheduled for hearing on Monday.
However, the court rejected the request and proceeded with the delivery of its judgment.
The prosecution accused Akonta Mining and its officials of engaging in illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi and facilitating unauthorised 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 maintained that Mr Okum was contracted only to carry out land reclamation and establish a coconut plantation, insisting that no approval had been given for mining activities.
The case followed investigations launched after Chairman Wontumi honoured an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, after a directive from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
The court is expected to proceed to the sentencing stage following the conviction.
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