Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the Accra High Court for his role in illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay at the Criminal Division of the High Court shortly after 11:40 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, brings to a close one of Ghana’s most high-profile prosecutions related to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on Mr. Antwi-Boasiako. Failure to pay the fine will attract a default prison term of three years. The court ruled that the custodial sentence and the default sentence would run concurrently.
Chairman Wontumi was convicted on all six counts brought against him, including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposely facilitating illegal mining activities, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended. The offences carry a statutory custodial sentence of between 15 and 25 years.
Among the convictions were assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposely facilitating the contravention of the law through illegal mining operations. Similar charges against him in his capacity as the third accused also resulted in guilty verdicts.
The court, however, imposed a financial penalty on Akonta Mining Company Limited, a company linked to Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, instead of a custodial sentence.
The company, which faced similar charges, was fined after the court took mitigating factors into account, sparing it the custodial punishment imposed on its controlling director.
Before sentencing, counsel for Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, pleaded with the court to impose the minimum statutory sentence of 15 years.
The defence argued that the convicted politician had shown remorse, cooperated with investigators throughout the trial and had consistently honoured all court appearances.
Counsel further described him as a first-time offender, a family man and a businessman who had made meaningful contributions to his community and the nation, urging the court to temper justice with mercy.
The prosecution, however, maintained that the gravity of the offences warranted a stiffer punishment. After considering submissions from both sides, Justice Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Mr. Antwi-Boasiako to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The case stemmed from a police anti-illegal mining operation conducted at the Samreboi concession on April 16 and 17, 2025. The operation led to the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others.
Security personnel also recovered 25 serviceable excavators, firearms, vehicles and GH¢157,000 in cash during the operation.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to be carried out on the concession without the approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, in violation of Ghana’s mining laws.
The defence rejected the allegation, insisting that no illegal mining had been authorised by their client. They argued that individuals found on the concession had been engaged solely in land reclamation and coconut plantation activities.
The court, however, found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to secure convictions on all counts, culminating in the 20-year prison sentence imposed on the NPP regional chairman.
