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Published: July 20, 2026
Published at : 11:42am
Story by Saibu Terry
The Accra High Court has found the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and Akonta Mining Company Limited guilty of offences related to illegal mining activities.
The court convicted Chairman Wontumi and his mining company on charges of assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and purposefully facilitating unlawful mining operations, contrary to Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act.
The case stemmed from allegations that Akonta Mining permitted third parties to undertake mining activities on its Samreboi concession in the Western Region without obtaining prior written approval from the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, as required by law. Prosecutors argued that the arrangement amounted to an unlawful assignment of mineral rights and facilitated illegal mining on the concession.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented evidence from witnesses, including officials from the Minerals Commission, who testified that no application or ministerial approval had been granted for the alleged transfer of mining rights. The defence maintained that no unlawful assignment had taken place and denied any wrongdoing.
The conviction marks a significant development in one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions involving a high-profile political figure. Details of the sentence or any further orders from the court are expected to be announced separately.
