News · Godfred Anku Kaali
Wontumi sentenced to 20 years in prison
The High Court in Accra has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment for illegal mining offences linked to Akonta Mining Limited.
Delivering judgment on Monday, July 20, 2026, the court imposed two separate 20-year prison sentences after finding him guilty on two counts. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve a total of 20 years in prison. The court also fined him 10,000 penalty units on each count.
Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the prosecution had proved all the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court found Wontumi guilty of assigning mineral rights without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources and of facilitating unlawful mining activities.
The judge also convicted Akonta Mining Limited of unlawfully assigning mineral rights and facilitating illegal mining.
Before delivering the judgment, the court dismissed an application by the defence seeking to postpone the ruling and refer constitutional issues in the case to the Supreme Court. Justice Kocuvie-Tay held that the relevant provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act were clear and did not conflict with the 1992 Constitution.
The court ruled that there was no dispute that Akonta Mining transferred its mineral rights without obtaining the required ministerial approval. It also rejected the defence’s argument that Henry Okum had only been engaged to reclaim degraded land.
According to the court, the evidence showed that Mr Okum had been allowed to mine parts of the concession and use the proceeds to finance land reclamation. The judge noted that this evidence was not challenged during cross-examination.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay further ruled that although Akonta Mining is a separate legal entity, the circumstances of the case justified lifting the company’s corporate veil because Wontumi exercised effective control over its operations. The court therefore held him personally liable for the offences committed through the company.
The court also found that Wontumi facilitated illegal mining by allowing Henry Okum access to the mining concession without obtaining the approvals required under the Minerals and Mining Act. Evidence presented during the trial showed that he introduced Mr Okum to an individual who assisted him in acquiring an excavator for the mining activities.
The court dismissed the defence’s arguments that there were no written agreements and that portions of the Minerals and Mining Act should be interpreted differently.
The convictions were secured under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 995), which provides stiffer penalties for illegal mining-related offences.
Source: GBCOnline.com