An Accra High Court has convicted NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on all six illegal mining charges.
The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra found Chairman Wontumi guilty of unlawfully assigning mineral rights and purposely facilitating unlicensed mining operations on the Akonta Mining Company Limited concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the prosecution proved Mr Antwi-Boasiako, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining, permitted mining activities on the concession without the prior written approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The court dismissed a defence application seeking to postpone the judgment and refer constitutional issues to the Supreme Court before proceeding with the ruling.
The convictions also apply to Akonta Mining Company Limited, while co-accused Kwame Antwi remains at large. The court is yet to impose sentence, with each of the six counts carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako had pleaded not guilty, insisting Henry Okum was engaged only for land reclamation and a coconut plantation project, not mining. However, the prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, successfully argued that the concession was used for unauthorised mining activities without the required ministerial approval.
The case stemmed from a special anti-illegal mining operation at Samreboi in April 2025, during which police arrested 29 suspects and seized excavators, firearms, suspected gold materials and GH¢157,000 in cash.
