Chairman Wontumi Sentenced to 20 Years for Illegal Mining as NPP Cries Foul and Bawumia Visits Nsawam Prison

The Accra High Court has sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years in prison for his involvement in illegal mining activities through his company, Akonta Mining Limited. Presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, the court found the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman guilty of multiple counts, including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations on the Samreboi concession. The judgment emphasized a severe lack of corporate governance within Akonta Mining, with the court ruling that Wontumi maintained personal control over the illegal operations. While Wontumi’s defense argued he had only authorized land reclamation, the court dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated, ordering the forfeiture of seized mining equipment and cash to the state.

The conviction has triggered a sharp divide between Ghana’s major political factions. The NPP has officially labeled Wontumi a "political prisoner," with General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong describing the verdict as a "travesty of justice" based on assumptions rather than evidence. Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia led a high-powered delegation to visit Wontumi at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison on July 22, 2025, to offer solidarity and announce an aggressive appeal strategy led by counsel Samuel Atta Akyea. Conversely, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed claims of political persecution. NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande pointed out that much of the evidence used to secure the conviction was actually compiled by the preceding Akufo-Addo administration, suggesting the case demonstrates that no individual is above the law under the current Mahama presidency.

Legal experts and state prosecutors have further clarified the circumstances surrounding the heavy sentence. Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai revealed that while co-defendants Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi avoided custodial sentences by becoming state witnesses under plea bargaining laws, Wontumi opted for a full trial, which ultimately led to the maximum penalty. Furthermore, the Attorney General's office recently rejected a separate plea-bargaining proposal from Wontumi regarding criminal charges linked to a loan from the Ghana EXIM Bank, citing the proposal as inadequate to resolve the state's concerns.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey has hailed the ruling as a landmark victory for environmental advocacy, signaling a renewed state commitment to tackling the "galamsey" crisis that has devastated the nation's water bodies and forests. As Wontumi begins his sentence, he faces additional legal hurdles, including an upcoming hearing for the Tano Nimiri Forest case and separate investigations into his luxury assets, including high-end vehicles. Environmentalists and civil society groups have urged the judiciary to maintain this momentum, ensuring that the law is applied consistently to all high-profile figures involved in illegal resource exploitation.