Chairman Wontumi Convicted: NPP Ashanti Leader Faces 20 Years for Illegal Mining

In a landmark ruling that has sent shockwaves through Ghana's political establishment, the Accra High Court has sentenced Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years' imprisonment for illegal mining-related offences. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay delivered the conviction on Monday, July 20, 2026, concluding one of Ghana's most high-profile prosecutions related to illegal mining.

Beyond the custodial sentence, the court imposed a financial penalty of 10,000 penalty units equivalent to GH¢120,000. Should Chairman Wontumi fail to settle this fine, he will serve an additional three years. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the custodial and default sentences will be served together rather than sequentially.

The Charges and Conviction

Chairman Wontumi was found guilty on all six counts brought against him under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006. The charges centred on his unauthorised assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval and his deliberate facilitation of unlicensed mining operations. These are serious violations of Ghana's mining legislation designed to regulate and control the nation's mineral resources.

The illegal mining operation itself was uncovered during an anti-galamsey exercise conducted by security agencies at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region on April 16 and 17, 2025. During that operation, authorities arrested 28 suspects alongside Michael Ayisi Gyedu and seized significant assets including 25 excavators, firearms, vehicles and GH¢157,000 in cash.

Akonta Mining Company Limited, the firm associated with Chairman Wontumi, was also convicted. However, the court imposed only financial penalties on the company rather than custodial sentences, citing mitigating factors in its consideration.

Why It Matters for Ghana

This conviction carries profound implications for Ghana's ongoing battle against illegal mining, a crisis that has devastated the nation's water bodies, farmland and environment for years. The case demonstrates that no one—regardless of political status or prominence—is above the law, at least in principle. A high-ranking politician's conviction sends a powerful signal about the judiciary's willingness to hold powerful figures accountable.

Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has been identified as a major environmental threat to Ghana. The sector operates outside regulatory frameworks, destroying ecosystems, contaminating water sources and destabilising mining-dependent communities. When political figures are implicated in such activities, it underscores how deeply the problem is embedded across Ghana's institutional landscape.

This conviction also highlights the tension between political power and legal accountability. Chairman Wontumi's prosecution demonstrates that the courts remain a venue for justice even when the accused holds significant political influence, though critics may question whether similar vigour is applied uniformly across cases.

The Defence Arguments and Sentencing Rationale

Defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea had appealed for leniency, requesting the minimum 15-year sentence permitted under law. The defence argued that Chairman Wontumi had cooperated with investigators, maintained full attendance at trial proceedings, expressed remorse and had no prior criminal record. His defence team also highlighted his contributions to society and family responsibilities.

The prosecution countered by urging the court to impose a sentence reflecting the gravity of the offences. Justice Kocuvie-Tay settled on 20 years—placing the sentence at the midpoint of the 15-to-25-year range prescribed by law. This suggests the court viewed the offences as serious but not warranting the maximum penalty.

The defence had maintained throughout the trial that no illegal mining was authorised. Instead, they claimed the individuals found at the concession were engaged in land reclamation work and coconut plantation establishment. The court rejected these submissions, finding Chairman Wontumi guilty on all counts.

A separate application regarding forfeiture of the seized excavators, firearms, vehicles and cash remains pending before the High Court.