Former President Akufo-Addo's 2023 defense of Akonta Mining resurfaces after owner's conviction
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Remarks made by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2023, where he defended Akonta Mining against allegations of illegal mining, have resurfaced. This comes after the company's owner, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labor in the Samreboi illegal mining case. In 2023, Akufo-Addo publicly stated that Akonta Mining was not involved in illegal mining activities anywhere in Ghana. An Accra High Court found Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited guilty on all six counts in the Samreboi case.
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Kwabena Nsenkyire, former New Patriotic Party NPP Ashanti Regional Vice Chairman, has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to grant a presidential pardon to Chairman Wontumi, also known as Bernard Antwi-Boasiako. Chairman Wontumi was sentenced by the Accra High Court to 20 years' imprisonment for illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The court also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units GH垄120,000, with a default sentence of three years' imprisonment for non-payment. Nsenkyire stated that the news saddened party members but their immediate focus was on ensuring justice. He added that the party would await a briefing from Chairman Wontumi's legal team before deciding on next steps. Nsenkyire urged President Mahama to consider the pardon, citing recent pardons granted to other inmates and suggesting it would enhance the President's reputation as a "father for all" and demonstrate Christian values.
Must ReadEducation Minister Haruna Iddrisu announced that Cabinet has approved the US$331 million STARR-J Project, negotiated by President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Finance. This project aims to improve infrastructure and enhance the quality of secondary education nationwide and will be presented to Parliament for consideration. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Iddrisu stated the project reinforces the government's commitment to strengthening the Free Senior High School Free SHS policy, addressing challenges such as infrastructure gaps, student feeding, and quality assurance. The STARR-J Project will benefit 210 Senior High Schools, Senior High Technical Schools, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET institutions across Ghana, with 112 schools, including 38 TVET institutions, slated for rehabilitation. New dormitories, classrooms, and laboratories will also be constructed. The government plans to upgrade 30 Category C schools to Category B and convert 20 Category B schools into Category A institutions. From 2027, the Ghana Education Trust Fund GETFund will provide dedicated funding for infrastructure expansion in Category A schools. The project underscores the government's dedication to making the Free SHS policy sustainable and ensuring access to quality education in modern learning environments.
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.