The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of multiple offences linked to illegal mining operations at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay on Monday, July 20, 2026, concludes a high-profile prosecution that has attracted nationwide attention amid Ghana’s intensified fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three-year prison term, although the court directed that the custodial sentence and any default sentence would run concurrently.
Chairman Wontumi was convicted on all six charges brought against him, including unlawfully assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and facilitating mining activities without the requisite legal authorisation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The court held that the offences committed warranted a substantial custodial sentence, ultimately settling on 20 years, which falls within the statutory punishment of 15 to 25 years prescribed under the law.
Although Akonta Mining Company Limited, the company associated with Mr Antwi-Boasiako, was also found liable, the court declined to impose a custodial sanction on the corporate entity.
Instead, the company was ordered to pay a financial penalty after the judge considered mitigating factors presented during the sentencing proceedings.
The ruling effectively distinguishes the liability of the company from that of its controlling director, who was personally held responsible for the offences established during the trial.
Prior to sentencing, defence lawyers led by Samuel Atta Akyea appealed to the court to exercise leniency by imposing the minimum custodial sentence permitted under the law.
Counsel argued that their client had cooperated with investigators from the onset of the case, attended court proceedings without fail and demonstrated remorse throughout the trial.
The defence further urged the court to take into account Chairman Wontumi’s lack of previous criminal convictions, his family responsibilities and what they described as his longstanding contributions to society.
However, the prosecution maintained that the gravity of the offences and their impact on Ghana’s natural resources justified a significant custodial sentence.
After considering submissions from both parties, Justice Kocuvie-Tay concluded that a 20-year prison term was appropriate in the circumstances.
The prosecution traced the case to a joint anti-illegal mining operation conducted at the Samreboi concession on April 16 and 17, 2025.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 other suspects allegedly involved in unlawful mining activities.
Investigators also seized 25 operational excavators, firearms, several vehicles and GH¢157,000 in cash during the operation.
According to the prosecution, evidence presented before the court established that Mr Antwi-Boasiako, in his capacity as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to be carried out on the concession without obtaining the mandatory approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources.
The defence rejected those allegations throughout the trial, insisting that no illegal mining had been authorised by their client and contending that persons found at the site were engaged in land reclamation and coconut plantation development rather than mineral extraction.
Meanwhile, the legal proceedings are not yet entirely concluded, as the Republic has filed a separate application seeking the forfeiture of excavators, firearms, vehicles, cash and other items confiscated during the anti-galamsey operation. The High Court is expected to rule on that application at a later date.
