The 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 offences related to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence on Monday, July 20, 2026, ending one of Ghana’s most closely followed illegal mining cases.
The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional three-year prison term.
The custodial sentence and the default term attached to the fine will run concurrently.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay had earlier convicted Mr Antwi-Boasiako on all six charges, including assigning mineral rights without approval and intentionally facilitating mining operations without a valid licence, offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The 20-year sentence falls within the legal punishment range of 15 to 25 years prescribed for the offences.
Akonta Mining fined
The court showed leniency to Akonta Mining Company Limited, the company linked to Mr Antwi-Boasiako, imposing a financial penalty instead of a custodial sentence.
The company, which faced similar charges, was ordered to pay penalties after the court considered mitigating factors.
The decision means the company will not face the same prison sentence imposed on its controlling director.
Defence plea rejected
Before sentencing, lawyers for Mr Antwi-Boasiako, led by former Attorney General Samuel Atta Akyea, appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
The defence urged the court to impose the minimum 15-year sentence, citing his cooperation with investigators, remorse, consistent attendance throughout the trial and lack of previous criminal convictions.
They also described him as a family man who had contributed to his community and the country.
However, after considering arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court imposed a 20-year custodial sentence.
Background to the case
The case followed a police anti-illegal mining operation conducted 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 recovering 25 excavators, firearms, vehicles and cash amounting to GH¢157,000.
Prosecutors argued that Mr Antwi-Boasiako, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to take place on the concession without the required approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The defence maintained that Mr Antwi-Boasiako did not authorise any mining activities and argued that persons found at the concession were engaged in land reclamation and coconut plantation activities.
The Republic is also seeking a forfeiture order for items retrieved from the concession, including excavators, firearms, vehicles and cash.
The court is expected to rule on the forfeiture application in a subsequent decision.
