The Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, to 20 years in prison for his involvement in illegal mining operations.
Popularly known as “Chairman Wontumi,” the prominent politician was convicted over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western region.
Presiding Judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, delivered the landmark judgment at the Criminal Division of the High Court on Monday morning, 20 July 2026.
The ruling brings a conclusion to one of the country’s most high-profile illegal mining prosecutions.
The Sentences and Financial Penalties
In addition to the 20-year custodial sentence, the court slapped Antwi-Boasiako with a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GHS120,000.
Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional three-year prison term, which the court ruled will run concurrently with the main 20-year sentence.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay found the NPP regional chairman guilty on all six counts.
The specific offenses included assigning mineral rights without requisite regulatory approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The 20-year term falls squarely within the statutory 15-to-25-year sentencing bracket mandated by Ghanaian law for such offenses.
Corporate Leniency
Meanwhile, the court took a more lenient stance on Akonta Mining Company Limited, the firm linked to the politician.
Facing similar charges, the corporate entity escaped a custodial shutdown and was instead ordered to pay a financial penalty in penalty units.
The judge noted that mitigating circumstances justified treating the company separately from its controlling director.
Pleadings for Mercy Fail
Prior to the sentencing, the defense team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, strongly appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
Akyea urged the judge to hand down the statutory minimum of 15 years, arguing that his client had shown remorse, cooperated fully with investigators, and maintained a flawless attendance record throughout the trial.
The defense further described Antwi-Boasiako as a first-time offender, a dedicated family man, and a citizen who has contributed significantly to both his community and the nation.
However, the court ultimately settled on the 20-year term after balancing the defense’s pleas against the gravity of the prosecution’s case.
Case Background
The high-stakes legal battle stemmed from a targeted police anti-illegal mining swoop at the Samreboi concession on 16 April and 17 Apirl 2025.
The state operation led to the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 other suspects.
During the raid, security operatives seized 25 operational excavators, firearms, vehicles, and GH¢157,000 in cash.
The state prosecution successfully argued that Antwi-Boasiako, acting as the owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, authorised illegal mining on the concession without obtaining a permit from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
In contrast, the defense maintained throughout the trial that the accused never authorised mining, claiming that the personnel on-site were strictly contracted for land reclamation and coconut plantation establishment.
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