The Accra High Court has convicted New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on all six charges brought against him over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Delivering judgment, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court found Mr Antwi-Boasiako guilty of offences including the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and purposely facilitating unlicensed mining operations, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
The court is yet to sentence the convicted politician, with each offence carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Court Finds Illegal Assignment of Mining Rights
The court held that the prosecution proved Mr Antwi-Boasiako, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to be carried out on the Samreboi concession without the prior approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay found that Mr Antwi-Boasiako unlawfully permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining operations on the concession without the written ministerial approval required under Section 14(1) of Act 703.
The court further ruled that he facilitated mining by persons who did not possess licences issued by the Minister, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Act.
Charges and Trial
The six charges involved Mr Antwi-Boasiako, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and Kwame Antwi, who remains at large. They comprised:
- Three counts of assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval against Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining Company Limited.
- Three counts of purposely facilitating unlicensed mining operations against the same accused persons.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on October 7, 2025, and maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Evidence Before the Court
The case arose from a special anti-illegal mining operation conducted by police in the Samreboi area on April 16 and 17, 2025, during which Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others were arrested.
Security agencies seized excavators, firearms, suspected gold materials and GH¢157,000 in cash during the operation.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, called four witnesses, including Henry Okum, Michael Ayisi Gyedu, a mineral law expert and a police investigator.
Mr Okum testified that he sought permission from Mr Antwi-Boasiako in September 2024 to undertake mining on the concession and was granted approval.
A Senior Manager for Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, Joseph Iroko, told the court that the Commission had no record of any application or ministerial approval authorising the assignment or transfer of the concession.
Defence Rejected
After the prosecution closed its case, the court dismissed the defence’s submission of no case, ruling that sufficient evidence existed for Mr Antwi-Boasiako to open his defence.
Testifying in his own defence, the NPP regional chairman denied authorising illegal mining, insisting that Henry Okum had only been contracted to carry out land reclamation and establish a coconut plantation rather than conduct mining activities.
The defence also called former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources George Mireku-Duker and former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah as witnesses.
Sentencing Pending
The Republic has also applied for the forfeiture of items seized during the operation, including excavators, firearms, vehicles and the GH¢157,000 recovered from the concession.
The High Court is expected to rule on the forfeiture application before proceeding to sentencing.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako and the other accused persons retain the right to appeal the conviction before the Court of Appeal and, subsequently, the Supreme Court.
