The Accra High Court has imposed a severe penalty on Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely recognized as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, sentencing him to a substantial 20 years of imprisonment. This judgment was delivered after the court found him culpable in the highly publicized case of illicit mining involving the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited, situated in Samreboi, within the Western Region of Ghana.
The sentence was formally handed down by the presiding judge of Criminal Court 4 of the High Court, following the conviction of Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and another accused individual, Kwame Antwi, for engaging in unlawful mining activities on the company’s concession.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court has also imposed a significant fine of 10,000 penalty units, which is equivalent to a substantial GH¢120,000. In the event that this fine is not paid, the court has stipulated a default sentence of three years’ imprisonment. Notably, the custodial sentence and the default term attached to the fine are slated to run concurrently, thereby ensuring that the overall duration of the punishment is not excessively prolonged.
Prior to delivering the judgment, the court meticulously considered and subsequently dismissed an application submitted by the defense, which sought to halt the proceedings and refer specific aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for a comprehensive constitutional interpretation. The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ruled that the application lacked merit, despite the fervent submissions presented by the defense lawyer, Charles Boakye, who was holding brief for the lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea. It is worth noting that the court had been informed that Mr. Atta Akyea was currently outside the country and was expected to return on July 22.
The defense had vehemently argued that the judgment should be postponed pending the determination of constitutional issues by the Supreme Court. However, the court rejected this request and proceeded with the case, underscoring its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in a timely and efficient manner.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution maintained that Akonta Mining and its officials had engaged in blatant illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession and had facilitated unlawful mining operations, resulting in egregious breaches of Ghana’s mining laws. In his defense, Chairman Wontumi categorically denied authorizing prosecution witness Henry Okum to undertake mining activities on the concession. Instead, 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 initially commenced after Chairman Wontumi honored an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following a directive from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine. This marked the beginning of a protracted and complex legal battle, which has now culminated in the imposition of a severe penalty on Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused.
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