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Chairman Wontumi's old video challenging John Mahama resurfaces after illegal mining sentencing
via GhanaWeb5 min read
A viral video featuring Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, has resurfaced following his sentencing for illegal mining. On Monday, July 20, 2026, an Accra High Court sentenced Wontumi to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges related to illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120,000, with a default sentence of three years’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid. In the resurfaced video, Wontumi is seen challenging former President John Dramani Mahama regarding illegal mining, asserting that Mahama could not stop him or affect Akonta Mining's operations. He claimed to have built a successful business empire and dared Mahama to confront him, stating, "It is time Mahama becomes afraid of me. I am unstoppable." Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay delivered the sentence, concluding a high-profile illegal mining prosecution. Wontumi was found guilty on six counts, including assigning mineral rights without approval and facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contravening the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 Act 703.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadBernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor. An Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, delivered the judgment on July 20, 2026. The court ruled that Antwi-Boasiako, as the first accused, would serve 20 years for count 1 and another 20 years for count 4, with both sentences running concurrently. Additionally, he was fined 10,000 penalty units for each count, with a default of three years' imprisonment with hard labor if the fines are not paid. The court noted that Antwi-Boasiako was a first-time offender. A 59-page court ruling details the trial and the reasons for the decision.
Must ReadBernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor. This follows his conviction on all six counts related to alleged illegal mining activities. Chairman Wontumi, along with Akonta Mining Company Limited and Kwame Antwi, faced trial over their involvement in mining operations on the company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. The Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, delivered the judgment on July 20, 2026. The prosecution accused the defendants of unlawfully assigning mineral rights and facilitating mining activities without the necessary approvals, violating the Minerals and Mining Act. A video shows Chairman Wontumi being escorted into a prison vehicle after his sentencing.
The New Patriotic Party NPP has accused the Mahama administration of attempting to use the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, as a political "trophy." In a statement dated July 20, 2026, the NPP argued that Wontumi's conviction should not be celebrated as proof of the government's commitment to fighting illegal mining, claiming that similar allegations involving individuals linked to the governing National Democratic Congress NDC have not received the same attention. The party alleged selective application of justice, questioning why investigations into illegal mining activities involving some NDC officials have not progressed with similar urgency. The NPP stated that the prosecution failed to provide evidence that Wontumi unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral concession, asserting that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Describing the judgment as a "travesty of justice," the NPP announced that its legal team had begun the process of appealing the High Court’s decision and reaffirmed its support for Chairman Wontumi, maintaining he was wrongfully convicted and calling him a "political prisoner."