Chairman Wontumi's former lawyer to appeal 20-year sentence for illegal mining
via GhanaWeb5 min read
Andy Appiah-Kubi, former counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, plans to appeal his former client's 20-year prison sentence. Appiah-Kubi stated that Chairman Wontumi instructed him to file an appeal if he was sentenced, a conversation that occurred just minutes before the court delivered its judgment. Chairman Wontumi was found guilty on six counts by the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court on Monday, July 20, 2026. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ordered the prison terms to run concurrently and fined Wontumi 10,000 penalty units on each count. Akonta Mining Limited, also convicted on two counts, received a fine of 15,000 penalty units per count. The convictions were under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 Act 703, as amended by the Minerals and Mining Amendment Act, 2020 Act 995, which imposes stricter penalties for illegal mining offenses. Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Limited, and Kwame Antwi were prosecuted for alleged illegal mining activities on the company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region, including unlawfully assigning mineral rights and facilitating mining without authorization.
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Must ReadIMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe stated that the conviction of Chairman Wontumi should initiate broader action against politicians involved in illegal mining, regardless of their political affiliation. Cudjoe described the case as significant, demonstrating that high-profile individuals can be prosecuted when evidence is available. He expressed hope that this outcome would encourage law enforcement to pursue other cases involving politically exposed persons, stating it is the only way to win the war against illegal mining and water pollution. Cudjoe urged that investigations should not conclude with Wontumi and called for all politicians named in former Minister Dr. Frimpong Boateng鈥檚 dossier on destructive illegal mining to be investigated and prosecuted if sufficient evidence is found. He also encouraged President John Dramani Mahama to identify members of his own party involved in illegal mining and called for the expedited investigation of NDC officials Joseph Yamin and Abanga Yakubu by EOCO.
Kwadwo Poku, a member of the NPP Communications Team, has raised concerns regarding the absence of prosecution for owners of excavators confiscated during the government's anti-illegal mining operations. His comments followed the 20-year prison sentence given to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Samreboi mining case. Poku suggested that the handling of Wontumi's case contributes to the NPP's view that the conviction is political persecution. He stated that in 2025 alone, 443 excavators were seized, and over 1,200 individuals were arrested during these operations. However, he noted that none of the excavator owners are currently in court, and the progress of cases involving those arrested is unclear. Poku argued that the focus on Wontumi's conviction has created a misleading impression that the case is directly about illegal mining, asserting that the court's decision was based on specific legal issues rather than evidence of Wontumi's personal involvement in illegal mining.