The Accra High Court gave Chairman Wontumi a 20 year prison sentence. Chairman Wontumi is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party. His real name is Bernard Antwi-Boasiako. The court found him guilty of doing mining in the Western Region.
The judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay made this decision on Monday, July 20 2026. This is a deal in Ghana because it is one of the most famous cases about illegal mining also known as galamsey.
Chairman Wontumi has to pay a fine. The fine is 10,000 penalty units, which’s equal to GH¢120,000. If he does not pay the fine he will get another three years in prison.. He will not have to serve this extra time after his 20 year sentence. They will happen at the time.
The court found Chairman Wontumi guilty of all six charges against him. These charges include giving out mineral rights without permission and helping someone do mining without a license. This is against the Minerals and Mining Act.
The court also made a decision about Akonta Mining Company Limited. This company is connected to Chairman Wontumi. The company has to pay a fine. It does not have to go to prison. The court thought about some things the company did so it did not give it a harsh punishment like Chairman Wontumis.
Before the court made its decision Chairman Wontumis lawyers asked for mercy. They wanted the court to give Chairman Wontumi the minimum sentence of 15 years. The lawyers said that Chairman Wontumi had helped the investigators and had said sorry for what he did. They also said that he had never been in trouble with the law before and that he takes care of his community and family.
The judge did not listen to the lawyers. She gave Chairman Wontumi a 20 year prison sentence.
Background
This whole thing started when the police did an operation against mining at the Samreboi concession. This happened on April 16 and 17 2025. The police arrested 29 people, including Michael Ayisi Gyedu. They also took 25 excavators, some guns, vehicles and GH¢157,000.
The prosecutors said that Chairman Wontumi had let people do mining on the concession without getting permission from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. This is against the law.
Chairman Wontumis lawyers said that he did not do anything wrong. They said that the people who were at the site were only fixing the land and planting coconuts.
Now the Republic wants the court to take away all the things that were seized during the operation. The court will make a decision, about this later.
