The Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay (Criminal Court 4 Division), convicted NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako — popularly known as Chairman Wontumi — on all six counts relating to the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval and facilitating an unlicensed mining operation at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
Key details across the reporting:
- He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for each of the two counts he was convicted on, with the sentences to run concurrently, plus a fine of 10,000 penalty units per count.
- His company, Akonta Mining Limited, was also convicted on six counts, but the court showed leniency toward the company, imposing a financial penalty instead of a custodial sentence.
- The court ruled that Wontumi and Akonta Mining permitted Henry Okoom and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without securing ministerial approval. Wontumi had told the court he only authorized Okoom to reclaim land via coconut farming, not mining, and said he didn’t know Okoom was a small-scale miner — an explanation the court rejected.
- The court found that Akonta Mining lacked a functional board of directors and that Wontumi exercised effective control over its mining activities, justifying lifting the corporate veil and holding him personally liable.
- The 20-year sentence falls within the statutory range of 15 to 25 years prescribed for these offences under the Minerals and Mining Act.
- A third accused, Kwame Antwi, also stood trial alongside Wontumi and Akonta Mining.
Leave a Reply