A Ghanaian High Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence with hard labor to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, following his conviction for illegal mining.
Boasiako is a prominent corporate figure and serves as the opposition New Patriotic Party regional chairman for the Ashanti Region, which is the political party’s traditional stronghold.
The legal ruling determined that Boasiako alongside his firm, Akonta Mining, engaged in unlawful mining operations inside a protected forest reserve situated close to Samreboi in the Western Region of Ghana.
Judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay stated that Boasiako had illegally transferred mineral rights without obtaining the necessary authorization from the sector minister. Furthermore, he was convicted of aiding unlicensed mining activities, which violates the state Minerals and Mining Act.
While the maximum penalty allowed for these offenses stands at 25 years, the judge ultimately issued a 20-year term.
During the proceedings, the defense team appealed to the court for a lighter sentence. They highlighted that Boasiako had no prior convictions and was a law-abiding individual.
The lawyers also noted that his corporate entities provide employment for hundreds of citizens whose livelihoods would be jeopardized by his incarceration.
However, these arguments did not convince the judge.
The path to the final verdict faced numerous delays and legal maneuvers. Boasiako’s first legal representative, Andy Appiah Kubi, stepped down from the case.
The incoming attorney, Samuel Atta Akyea, subsequently requested an extension to study the case files from the beginning.
Atta Akyea later initiated a separate action at the Supreme Court of Ghana to contest the application of the Minerals and Mining Act in this prosecution.
He additionally petitioned the High Court to postpone the Monday ruling, citing his client’s absence from the country. The judge dismissed this application due to a lack of merit and proceeded to deliver the sentence as planned.
The 50-year-old politician has managed the ruling party’s operations in the Ashanti Region since 2014 and acted as a primary financial contributor during the two presidential terms of former leader Nana Akufo-Addo.
Aside from his mining interests, Boasiako controls television and radio networks alongside other commercial enterprises in Kumasi and Accra.
He previously drew public attention in 2022 after declaring an interest in acquiring the English football team Chelsea FC.
In 2025, the Economic and Organised Crime Office arrested him regarding the illegal mining claims, as well as a separate matter involving a 14-million-cedi loan from Exim Bank designated for an agricultural initiative.
Before this sentencing, Boasiako was actively running a campaign to secure the national chairmanship of the party.
The case highlights a broader environmental crisis, as illegal mining, locally referred to as galamsey, remains a significant challenge across Ghana.
Unregistered operators frequently set up setups in protected forests and near water bodies, utilizing harmful substances like mercury that pollute vital water networks used by local communities.
