Wontumi, Akonta mining slapped with 6 charges over alleged breaches of mining law

The Office of the Attorney-General has filed a six-count criminal charge sheet at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra against the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, over alleged breaches of the country’s mining laws.

He was charged alongside Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining Company Limited (Wontumi’s firm).

Meanwhile, the second accused person, Kwame Antwi, is currently at large.

The charges, which arise from alleged unauthorised mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region, invoke key provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

What are the charges?

1. Assignment of mineral rights without approval

In the first count against Wontumi, he is alleged to have, in 2024, permitted two individuals, Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to undertake mining operations within Akonta Mining’s concession without obtaining the prior written approval of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

This act, the prosecution argues, violates Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.

2. Assignment of mineral rights without approval

The second count mirrors the first but targets the second accused person, Kwame Antwi. As a director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, he is alleged to have similarly permitted the unauthorised mining activities, contravening the same statutory provisions.

3. Corporate liability for unauthorised assignment

The third count is brought against Akonta Mining Company Limited itself as the 3rd accused person.

The company is alleged to have, through its operations in Samreboi in 2024, permitted unauthorised mining activities on its concession without ministerial approval.

This, too, is in breach of Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of Act 703 as amended.

4. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining

Under this count, Wontumi is accused of deliberately facilitating mining operations by Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, who did not possess the requisite licence issued by the Minister.

The prosecution states that he enabled these activities to occur within Akonta Mining’s concession, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.

5. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining

The fifth count targets Kwame Antwi again, alleging that he also purposely facilitated unlicensed mining operations on the company’s concession by the same individuals, in breach of the same legal provision.

6. Corporate facilitation of unlicensed mining

The final count is directed at Akonta Mining Company Limited, alleging that the company enabled unlicensed mining activities on its concession.

This represents a corporate offence under Section 99(2)(b) of Act 703.

The charges reflect the state’s increasing reliance on existing mining legislation to tackle illegal mining (galamsey).

Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act restricts the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval, while Section 99(2)(b) criminalises the facilitation of unlicensed mining.

The Attorney-General’s Office, led by Dr Dominic Ayine, formally filed the charges on October 6 2025.

The case is expected to test the scope of corporate and individual liability for illegal mining activities in Ghana.

Bail Conditions for Chairman Wontumi

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been granted bail in the sum of GH₵15 million with three sureties.

According to the court’s ruling, two of the sureties must be justified with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

Chairman Wontumi is also required to deposit his passport(s) with the Registrar of the court and will be placed on a stop list at all entry and exit points of the country.

In addition, the three sureties are to submit photocopies of their Ghana Cards and digital addresses to the Registrar of the court.

As part of the bail conditions, Chairman Wontumi is to report to the investigator handling the case on the first and third Monday of every month. The investigator is expected to file proof of compliance for the court’s inspection.