The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been found guilty in a case related to illegal mining activities on the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited in Samreboi, located in the Western Region. The judgment was delivered by the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra, which is overseeing the case involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and another accused individual, Kwame Antwi.
Before announcing its decision, the court dismissed an application from Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers, who sought to defer the ruling and to refer certain aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application was without merit, particularly after the defense counsel informed the court that the lead lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, was out of the country and was expected to return on July 22.
Holding brief for Mr Atta Akyea, lawyer Charles Boakye told the court that the defence team had filed an application on July 16 requesting a postponement of the judgment and a constitutional referral. He added that the motion had been scheduled for a hearing on Monday.
However, the court proceeded with the judgment after rejecting the request. The case centres on allegations that Akonta Mining engaged in illegal mining activities on its concession at Samreboi, with the prosecution accusing the company and its officials of facilitating unlawful mining operations.
During proceedings on May 21, 2026, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum, referred to as PW2, to undertake mining activities on the company’s concession. He told the court that the arrangement with Mr Okum was strictly for land reclamation and coconut plantation activities, and not for mining.
The trial began after Chairman Wontumi appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following a directive from the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
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Source: Patricia Boakye
