The Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of offences related to illegal mining operations at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The sentence was handed down on Monday, July 20, 2026, by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court, following the court’s earlier decision that Antwi-Boasiako was guilty on all six counts brought against him.
The court also fined him 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional three-year imprisonment term.
The court ordered that both the custodial sentence and the default term attached to the fine should run concurrently.
Antwi-Boasiako was convicted on charges including the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and intentionally facilitating mining operations without the required licence, offences prosecuted under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The 20-year jail term falls within the legal punishment range of between 15 and 25 years prescribed for the offences.
Court considers Akonta Mining case
The court also dealt with charges involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, the company associated with Antwi-Boasiako.
Unlike the sentence imposed on its controlling director, the company was handed a financial penalty after the court considered what it described as mitigating factors.
The ruling means Akonta Mining will not face a custodial sentence similar to that imposed on Mr. Antwi-Boasiako.
Defence plea for leniency
Before the sentence was announced, lawyers for Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
The defence team urged the court to consider the minimum possible sentence of 15 years, arguing that their client had cooperated with investigators, shown remorse and consistently honoured court proceedings throughout the trial.
They further described him as a family man with no previous criminal record who had contributed to his community and the country.
After considering arguments from both the defence and prosecution, Justice Kocuvie-Tay handed down the 20-year sentence.
Background to the case
The case followed a police operation against suspected illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession on April 16 and 17, 2025.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others, with authorities reportedly recovering several items, including excavators, firearms, vehicles and cash amounting to GH¢157,000.
The prosecution told the court that Antwi-Boasiako, as the owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to take place on the concession without the approval required from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
However, the defence rejected the allegation, insisting that Mr. Antwi-Boasiako did not authorise any illegal mining activities and that persons found on the concession were involved in land reclamation and coconut plantation activities.
The Republic is also pursuing a forfeiture application over items retrieved from the concession, including excavators, firearms, vehicles and cash.
The court is expected to deliver a separate ruling on that application at a later date.
Discussion about this post