By Zobia Zulfqar 
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after the Accra High Court found him guilty of illegal mining offences linked to activities on the Samreboi mining concession.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman was convicted on Monday, July 20, following a trial involving him and his company, Akonta Mining Limited. The court ruled that both the businessman and the company committed offences related to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and the facilitation of unlicensed mining operations.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie Tay, who held that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. According to the court, the evidence showed that Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited allowed two individuals, Henry Okoom and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to carry out mining activities on the company’s concession without obtaining the required approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The court said Ghana’s mining laws clearly require ministerial approval before such rights can be assigned or transferred. However, the prosecution established that no such approval had been obtained before the mining activities began.
Justice Kocuvie Tay stated that the defence did not challenge the prosecution’s claim that ministerial approval had never been granted. The court described this as an implicit admission because there was no evidence that the company had even applied for the required approval.
Much of the prosecution’s case relied on circumstantial evidence, which the court found to be strong and convincing enough to support the conviction. The judge concluded that the evidence clearly showed that the accused had facilitated illegal mining activities on the concession.
As part of the sentence, Chairman Wontumi was ordered to serve 20 years in prison. In addition to the jail term, the court imposed a fine of GH¢120,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will serve an additional three years in prison.
Akonta Mining Limited was also found guilty and fined GH¢180,000 on two counts connected to the offences.
The case has attracted significant public attention because Chairman Wontumi is one of the most prominent political figures in the New Patriotic Party and has played a leading role in the party’s activities in the Ashanti Region for many years.
Illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey, remains one of the country’s biggest environmental and economic challenges. Successive governments have introduced measures to reduce illegal mining because of its impact on forests, rivers, farmland, and local communities.
Authorities say illegal mining has contributed to severe pollution of major water bodies, destruction of agricultural land, and loss of biodiversity across several regions. The government has repeatedly stated that it will continue to enforce mining laws regardless of a person’s political affiliation or social status.
The conviction of Chairman Wontumi comes as the government intensifies efforts to tackle illegal mining and strengthen enforcement within the mining sector. Officials have maintained that all mining operators must comply with licensing requirements and obtain the necessary approvals before carrying out any mining activities.
Legal experts say the ruling highlights the importance of following the Minerals and Mining Act, which regulates how mining rights are granted, transferred, and managed in Ghana. The law requires strict oversight from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to ensure that mining operations are conducted legally and responsibly.
The decision is expected to generate widespread political and public discussion in the coming days. Supporters of stronger enforcement against illegal mining have welcomed the outcome as a demonstration that the law applies equally to everyone, while others are likely to closely monitor any appeal or further legal proceedings.
For now, Chairman Wontumi remains one of the highest profile individuals to receive a lengthy prison sentence in connection with illegal mining offences. The case marks another significant chapter in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to protect its natural resources and strengthen accountability within the mining industry.
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