The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly called Chairman Wontumi, has been convicted in the case involving alleged illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The verdict was delivered by the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra in the trial involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited and co-accused Kwame Antwi.
Prior to announcing its decision, the court rejected an application from the defence seeking to postpone the judgment and refer certain legal matters in the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay dismissed the request, ruling that the application did not provide sufficient justification for delaying the court’s decision.
The defence had argued that lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, was unavailable because he was outside the country and was expected to return on July 22.
Lawyer Charles Boakye, who represented the defence team in court, explained that an application filed on July 16 sought an adjournment of the judgment and a referral of some constitutional issues to the Supreme Court.
He informed the court that the application was scheduled for hearing on Monday, but the judge proceeded with the ruling after declining the request.
The case stems from allegations that Akonta Mining Company Limited carried out unlawful mining activities on its concession at Samreboi, with the prosecution accusing the company and its officials of involvement in illegal mining operations.
During the proceedings on May 21, 2026, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum, also known as PW2, to engage in mining on the company’s concession.
He told the court that his arrangement with Mr Okum was strictly for land reclamation and coconut farming activities and did not permit any mining operations.
The trial began after Chairman Wontumi appeared before the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following an instruction from Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine.
