The Accra High Court has sentenced Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison for illegal mining offences linked to the Samreboi concession in Ghana’s Western Region on Monday, July 20, 2026.
This story falls under News
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 am, ending one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions.
The court also fined Mr Antwi-Boasiako 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 sentence attached to the fine will run concurrently.
Court convicts Chairman Wontumi on six counts
Before sentencing, Justice Kocuvie-Tay found Mr Antwi-Boasiako guilty on all six counts, including assigning mineral rights without approval and deliberately facilitating unlicensed mining activities contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The 20-year sentence falls within the legal range of 15 to 25 years prescribed for the offences.
The court also considered the case against Akonta Mining Company Limited, the firm linked to Mr Antwi-Boasiako.
Unlike its controlling director, the company was spared a custodial punishment and was ordered to pay a financial penalty after the court considered mitigating factors.
The decision means the company will not receive the same prison sentence imposed on Mr Antwi-Boasiako.
The ruling comes amid continued public debate over Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, and government efforts to hold individuals and companies accountable for environmental damage caused by unlawful mining activities.
AudityNews previously reported on Ghana’s intensified crackdown on illegal mining and the legal actions involving individuals accused of violating mining regulations.
Defence plea for leniency rejected
Before the sentence was handed down, Mr Antwi-Boasiako’s legal team, led by former Attorney General Samuel Atta Akyea, asked the court to impose the minimum possible punishment.
The lawyers argued that their client had shown remorse, cooperated with investigators and consistently appeared before the court throughout the trial.
They also described him as a family man with no previous criminal record who had contributed to his community and the country.
However, after considering arguments from both the defence and prosecution, the court settled on a 20-year prison term.
Case linked to Samreboi mining operation
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. Authorities also recovered 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 approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The defence rejected the claim, insisting that Mr Antwi-Boasiako did not authorise mining operations and that individuals found at the concession were involved only 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 that application in a subsequent decision.
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