An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay on Tuesday, October 7, outlined the bail conditions that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi),must satisfy.
This followed his and Akonta Mining Company Limited’s pleas of not guilty to charges related to illegal mining activities in the Western Region.
TV3’s court reporter, Laud Adu Asare, who was in court, reported that:
“Chairman Wontumi has been granted bail of GH¢15 million with three sureties. Two out of the three sureties are to be persons with landed properties. He is to deposit his passport with the registrar of the High Court and is to be placed on a stop list at all entry points. The three sureties are to deposit copies of their Ghana Cards with the registrar of the court.”
Additionally, Wontumi is to report to investigators on the first and third Monday of every month. The investigator is expected to file evidence of these entries at the end of each month.
Charges against Chairman Wontumi
1. Assignment of mineral rights without approval
In the first count against Wontumi, he is alleged to have, in 2024, permitted two individuals, Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to undertake mining operations within Akonta Mining’s concession without obtaining the prior written approval of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
This act, the prosecution argues, violates Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.
2. Assignment of mineral rights without approval
The second count mirrors the first but targets the second accused person, Kwame Antwi. As a director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, he is alleged to have similarly permitted the unauthorised mining activities, contravening the same statutory provisions.
3. Corporate liability for unauthorised assignment
The third count is brought against Akonta Mining Company Limited itself as the 3rd accused person.
The company is alleged to have, through its operations in Samreboi in 2024, permitted unauthorised mining activities on its concession without ministerial approval.
This, too, is in breach of Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of Act 703 as amended.
4. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining
Under this count, Wontumi is accused of deliberately facilitating mining operations by Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, who did not possess the requisite licence issued by the Minister.
The prosecution states that he enabled these activities to occur within Akonta Mining’s concession, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.
5. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining
The fifth count targets Kwame Antwi again, alleging that he also purposely facilitated unlicensed mining operations on the company’s concession by the same individuals, in breach of the same legal provision.
6. Corporate facilitation of unlicensed mining
The final count is directed at Akonta Mining Company Limited, alleging that the company enabled unlicensed mining activities on its concession.
This represents a corporate offence under Section 99(2)(b) of Act 703.
The charges reflect the state’s increasing reliance on existing mining legislation to tackle illegal mining (galamsey).
Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act restricts the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval, while Section 99(2)(b) criminalises the facilitation of unlicensed mining.
On Monday, October 6, the Police granted Chairman Wontumi GH¢1 million bail with two sureties. This followed his appearance at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over his alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, had earlier issued a warning in Accra during a Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engagement with President John Dramani Mahama that Chairman Wontumi should report to the CID on Monday, or he would order his arrest.
Speaking during President Mahama’s engagement with CSOs on galamsey in Accra on Friday, October 3, Dr. Ayine said, “The charges against Wontumi and Akonta Mining have been signed. He should be here on Monday. If he doesn’t come by Monday, I will order his arrest, and his charges will be read to him.”
It will be recalled that the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Yaako Donkor, announced that investigations into the operations of Akonta Mining, owned by Chairman Wontumi, were ongoing.
The CID boss said one other person had also been arrested in connection with the matter.
Asked about the current state of affairs regarding the investigation into the activities of Akonta Mining during a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 30, she said: “That case is also actively ongoing. Chairman Wontumi has visited us a couple of times; he was actually supposed to be coming back to us sometime this week. Unfortunately, he was ill, and his lawyer submitted a letter to us explaining that he was unwell.
“I believe he is now okay because we have communicated to them that he should be seeing us this week, and they have responded. So the investigations are actively ongoing.”
“I must mention that he is not the only one we have arrested or are investigating; there are a number of people we consider persons of interest. Last week, for instance, he had a partner, one Akuoko, who was part of the investigations on Akonta Mining; he was also arrested here and detained.
Chairman Wontumi first appeared before the CID on Monday, May 26, 2025, over investigations into the operations of his company, Akonta Mining.
He earlier denied reports that he was involved in illegal mining.
After the Forestry Commission was directed to halt the activities of Akonta Mining Limited’s operation, Mr. Boasiako said he was willing to allow due process.
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work,” he said on his TV station, Wontumi TV.
Mr. Boasiako also responded to speculation that he is involved in illegal mining, saying, “I want to tell the public that I am not into galamsey.”
“I have a large-scale company, which Akonta Mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available,” he added.
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
