The Accra High Court has sentenced 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 in the illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The sentence was handed down by Criminal Court 4 of the High Court after the court convicted Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and another accused person, Kwame Antwi, over unlawful mining activities on the company’s concession.
The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with a default sentence of three years’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
The custodial sentence and the default term attached to the fine will run concurrently.
Before delivering the judgment, the court dismissed an application by the defence seeking to halt proceedings 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, despite submissions by defence lawyer Charles Boakye, who held brief for lead counsel Samuel Atta Akyea. The court had been informed that Mr Atta Akyea was outside the country and expected to return on July 22.
The defence had argued that the judgment should be postponed pending the determination of constitutional issues by the Supreme Court. However, the court rejected the request and proceeded with the case.
The prosecution maintained that Akonta Mining and its officials engaged in illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession and facilitated unlawful mining operations, resulting in breaches of Ghana’s mining laws.
During the trial, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum (PW2) to undertake mining activities on the concession.
He insisted that his agreement with Mr Okum was solely for land reclamation and the establishment of a coconut plantation, and not for mining purposes.
The case began after Chairman Wontumi honoured an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following a directive from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
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