ACCRA, GHANA – July 20, 2026 — Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the Accra High Court after being convicted in connection with illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, marks one of Ghana’s most significant convictions in the country’s fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. The court found Bernard Antwi Boasiako guilty on two counts relating to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations. Although two separate 20-year prison terms were imposed, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he is expected to serve 20 years in prison.
The court also imposed fines on both Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited following their convictions. Prosecutors argued that mining activities were carried out on the Samreboi concession without the approvals required under Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act. During the trial, Wontumi maintained that the agreement on the concession was intended solely for land reclamation and coconut plantation development rather than mining, but the court rejected that defence after evaluating the evidence presented.
The ruling comes after the court dismissed a final application by the defence seeking to postpone judgment and refer constitutional issues to the Supreme Court. The conviction is expected to intensify Ghana’s ongoing campaign against illegal mining and has already generated widespread political and public debate across the country.
