Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining found guilty in illegal mining case

The Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra has found the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, guilty in the illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The judgment also covers Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person, Kwame Antwi, who were jointly standing trial over the alleged unlawful mining activities.

Before delivering its ruling, the court dismissed an application by Chairman Wontumi’s legal team seeking to postpone the judgment and refer aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application lacked merit after the defence informed the court that lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, was out of the country and expected to return on July 22.

Holding brief for Mr Atta Akyea, lawyer Charles Boakye told the court that the defence had filed the application on July 16 and that it had been scheduled for hearing on Monday. However, the court rejected the request and proceeded to deliver its judgment.

The prosecution accused Akonta Mining and its officials of facilitating illegal mining operations on the company’s concession at Samreboi.

During his testimony on May 21, 2026, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum (PW2) to conduct mining activities on the concession. He maintained that the agreement with Mr Okum was solely for land reclamation and coconut plantation projects, not mining.

The trial followed Chairman Wontumi’s appearance before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, after a directive from the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.

The court is expected to proceed with sentencing at a later stage.