Ghana Chamber of Mines CEO welcomes Chairman Wontumi's 20-year sentence for illegal mining
via GhanaWeb4 min read
Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has expressed satisfaction with the 20-year prison sentence handed to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, in the Akonta Mining case. Speaking on July 20, 2026, Ashigbey stated that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others involved in illegal mining, despite his belief that a harsher punishment could have been imposed. He hoped that other individuals, particularly 'kingpins' involved in illegal mining, would also face justice. Ashigbey urged the Mahama administration to ensure equal application of the law to all culpable parties. The High Court sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment on each of two counts, to run concurrently, and imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units per count. Akonta Mining Limited was fined 15,000 penalty units on each of its two counts. The convictions followed the court's dismissal of a defense application to delay judgment and refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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.
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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.