The Accra High Court has sentenced Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison for illegal mining activities.
The sentence was delivered on Monday, July 20, 2026, by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay.
He is to serve a prison term of 20 years within the statutory range of 15–25 years for the offences. He was also fined GH¢120,000 (10,000 penalty units), with a default sentence of 3 years in prison if unpaid. The default term will run concurrently with the 20-year sentence.
Wontumi was found guilty on all six counts, including assigning mineral rights without approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations, in contravention of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
Akonta Mining Company Limited, linked to Wontumi as its controlling director, was spared a custodial sentence. Instead, the court imposed only a financial penalty, citing mitigating circumstances.
Wontumi’s lawyers, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, had pleaded for the minimum 15-year sentence, arguing that he showed remorse, cooperated with investigators, had no prior record, and was a family man. The court ultimately imposed the 20-year term.
The case stems from a police anti-illegal mining operation on April 16–17, 2025, at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region, which resulted in the arrest of 28 others and the seizure of 25 excavators, firearms, vehicles, and GH¢157,000 in cash.
The defence claimed Wontumi authorised only land reclamation, not mining, but the prosecution argued he permitted mining without ministerial approval.
The court will hold a subsequent ruling on the Republic’s application for a forfeiture order of all items seized from the concession.