Chairman Wontumi Sentenced to 20years in prison.

An Accra High Court has sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi to 20 years in prison after convicting him on all six counts in the Samreboi illegal mining case.

The ruling makes him the most senior sitting party official convicted in Ghana’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. The Verdict Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court delivered the judgment, finding Antwi Boasiako guilty on all six counts he faced.

The charges centered on assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation at his company’s concession in Samreboi, in the Western Region. Alongside the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, with a default term of three years should he fail to pay.

Why 20 Years?

The charges fall under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended, which prescribes a sentencing range of 15 to 25 years for these offences. Antwi Boasiako’s legal team had pushed for the statutory minimum of 15 years, pointing to his remorse, cooperation with investigators, clean prior record and contributions to his community.

The court weighed these arguments against the prosecution’s case and ultimately settled on 20 years squarely in the middle of the range, but well above what the defence had requested.

The case traces back to a police raid on the Samreboi concession on April 16–17, 2025. Officers arrested Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others, seizing 25 excavators, firearms, vehicles, and GH¢157,000 in cash. Prosecutors, led by the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, argued that Antwi Boasiako as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited allowed mining to proceed on the concession without the required clearance from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

The trial saw several dramatic turns, including: A change in legal representation, after his former lawyer withdrew mid-trial, leading to Samuel Atta Akyea taking over the defence. An unsuccessful bid to refer key provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation , An failed appeal court application to halt the trial altogether.

Reports that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) froze nearly GH¢50 million in accounts linked to Wontumi during the proceedings.

What It Means

This conviction lands as one of the most significant results yet in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining, sending a signal that political standing offers no shield from prosecution. As one of the country’s most prominent party figures, Chairman Wontumi’s sentencing is likely to reverberate through both Ghana’s mining sector and its political landscape in the months ahead.

This is a developing story — we’ll update this post as more details, including any appeal, become available.