Chairman Wontumi Jailed 20 Years for Illegal Mining Offences

An Accra High Court has sentenced Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after convicting him on two illegal mining-related offences.

The court ordered the two 20-year sentences to run concurrently, meaning Wontumi will serve an effective prison term of 20 years. He was also fined 10,000 penalty units on each count.

Akonta Mining Limited, the company linked to Wontumi, was convicted on two related counts and fined 15,000 penalty units for each offence.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay found Wontumi guilty of unlawfully assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposefully facilitating illegal mining activities. The judge ruled that the prosecution had proven all elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.

ADVERTISEMENT

The court dismissed a last-minute application by the defence seeking to halt judgment and refer constitutional questions to the Supreme Court, ruling that the provisions of the mining law were clear and required no constitutional interpretation.

In her judgment, Justice Kocuvie-Tay held that Wontumi allowed small-scale miner Henry Okum to mine on Akonta Mining’s concession without the required ministerial approval, rejecting the defence’s claim that the arrangement was solely for land reclamation.

The court further lifted Akonta Mining’s corporate veil, finding that Wontumi exercised effective control over the company’s mining operations and could therefore be held personally liable for offences committed through the company.

During sentencing, defence lawyers urged the court to exercise leniency, describing Wontumi as a first-time offender who had shown remorse. They argued that his businesses employed thousands of people and that a lengthy prison sentence could affect many livelihoods.

The court, however, imposed the sentence, citing the seriousness of illegal mining offences and Parliament’s intention to strengthen penalties to protect the environment.

Wontumi retains the right to appeal both his conviction and sentence.