The Accra High Court has convicted Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on all six charges brought against him in connection with illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The full charge sheet, dated October 6, 2025, reveals that Wontumi, his company Akonta Mining Limited, and a third accused person who remains at large are being prosecuted under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

The Charges

Count One charges Wontumi, as the owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, with assignment of mineral rights without approval. Prosecutors allege that in 2024, he permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining operations within the company's concession without first obtaining the prior written approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Count Two levies the same offence against Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining who is currently at large.

Count Three charges Akonta Mining Company Limited itself with the same offence, alleging that the company permitted the two individuals to undertake mining operations on its concession without ministerial approval.

Counts Four, Five and Six charge Wontumi, Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining respectively with purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of Act 703 as amended.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years' imprisonment upon conviction.

Background of the Case

According to the charge sheet, Wontumi is a 49-year-old entrepreneur and native of Kuntanase in the Ashanti Region. On paper, he is one of two shareholders and one of two directors of Akonta Mining Company Limited, which was incorporated on November 5, 2010, with "mining and exploration" as its principal business activity.

The company lists Tarkwa as its principal place of business but operates mainly in the Samreboi area, both in the Western Region.

The second accused person, Kwame Antwi, remains at large. In his police statements, Wontumi reportedly told investigators that he never saw or heard from his co-director since 2010, after they completed company registration formalities. Investigations have established that Wontumi alone has since exercised absolute control over the company's activities.

Police Operation and Arrests

The case stems from a special police operation against illegal mining activities on April 16-17, 2025, in the Samreboi area. The operation led to the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others within Akonta Mining's concession.

During the arrest, police retrieved significant items, including:

• Eight pump-action guns
• One single-barrelled gun
• Five pieces of metal suspected to be gold concealed in a sachet
• Four machetes
• Several water pumping machines
• 310 AAA/BB cartridges
• One grease gun
• Four motorcycles
• Two vehicles
• Cash amounting to GH¢157,000
• Twenty-five serviceable excavators
• Four non-serviceable excavators

The Republic has indicated it will pray for a forfeiture order in respect of all items of value retrieved from the concession at the end of the trial.

Prosecution's Case

Upon his arrest, Michael Ayisi Gyedu named Henry Okum as his employer who assigned him to supervise mining activities on the concession. Okum was subsequently arrested and cautioned.

During interrogation, Okum told police investigators that sometime in September 2024, he approached Wontumi and sought permission to undertake mining operations within the concession, which he believed belonged to Wontumi at Samreboi.

Investigations have established that Wontumi did agree to this proposal and gave Okum permission to carry out mining operations within the concession.

The Defence

In his defence, Wontumi denied ever authorising any person to undertake mining on the Samreboi concession. He told the court that Akonta Mining Company Limited had never operated or mined on the concession, explaining that the company could not begin mining because it had not received parliamentary ratification.

He maintained that Henry Okum had only been contracted to provide land reclamation services and to undertake a coconut plantation project on the concession, with profits to be shared after maturity.

The defence called several witnesses, including former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku-Duker, and former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.