… The prosecution proved that Henry Okum was allowed to mine portions of the concession, and the court rejected claims that he was only engaged for reclamation. …
… Prosecutors allege that in 2024, he permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining operations within the company’s concession without first obtaining the prior written approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. …
… The court said Mr Antwi-Boasiako permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining activities on the concession without obtaining the prior written approval required under Section 14(1) of Act 703. …
… Mr Henry Okum, a small-scale miner, had earlier told the court that he had a verbal agreement with Mr Boasiako to mine on his concession at Samreboi. …
… Prosecution’s Case Prosecution’s first witness, Michael Gyedu Ayisi, an artisanal miner, told the court that he worked under Henry Okum on the Samreboi concession and that he got to know that the concession belonged to Wontumi based on information provided by Okum. …
… During cross-examination, Darko-Mensah admitted that he had no personal knowledge of discussions between Chairman Wontumi, the first accused person, and Henry Okum, a prosecution witness, regarding the assignment of the Samreboi concession. …
… Law Courts Complex, Accra Wontumi also denied allegations that he granted permission to one Henry Okum to undertake mining activities on the concession or assisted him in acquiring heavy-duty equipment. …
The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, has denied allegations that he authorised prosecution witness Henry Okum to undertake mining activities on Akonta Mining’s concession. …
… Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing six counts relating to allegations that they permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without prior ministerial approval, while also facilitating unlicensed mining activities. …
… Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused are standing trial for allegedly transferring or assigning mining rights in respect of Akonta Mining’s Samreboi concession to a third party, Henry Okum, without approval from the Minister responsible for Mines, contrary to the Minerals and Mini …
The High Court in Accra sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, to 20 years in prison on each of two counts related to illegal mining, to run concurrently, and imposed fines of 10,000 penalty units per count. Akonta Mining Limited, which was jointly charged, was convicted and fined 15,000 penalty units per count; the court found the company had assigned mineral rights without ministerial approval and that Wontumi exercised direct control over the mining lease.
The High Court in Accra sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, to 20 years in prison on each of two counts related to illegal mining, to run concurrently, and imposed fines of 10,000 penalty units per count. Akonta Mining Limited, which was jointly charged, was convicted and fined 15,000 penalty units per count; the court found the company had assigned mineral rights without ministerial approval and that Wontumi exercised direct control over the mining lease.
The Accra High Court has convicted Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, on all six charges under the Minerals and Mining Act in connection with illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The charges allege that Wontumi and his company Akonta Mining Limited permitted mining operations without ministerial approval and facilitated unlicensed mining in 2024.
The Accra High Court has convicted NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako on all six charges of illegal mining on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region, including unlawful assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006.
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, has asked the High Court in Accra to refer provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act to the Supreme Court for interpretation. He faces charges of leasing his mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region contrary to the Act, and his counsel argues that a key provision (Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006) is legally vague, overbroad and unconstitutional.
A High Court in Accra has scheduled July 3, 2026 to deliver judgment in the trial of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), who is accused of facilitating unlicensed mining on his Akonta Mining Company Limited's Samreboi concession without ministerial approval. He and his company face charges of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation under the Minerals and Mining Act.
Former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, a defence witness in the Samreboi illegal mining case involving Chairman Wontumi and two others, admitted during cross-examination that he had no personal knowledge of discussions between Chairman Wontumi and prosecution witness Henry Okum regarding the assignment of the mining concession at the centre of the criminal trial.
Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako testified before the High Court that individuals who claimed ownership of seized items have been turned into prosecution witnesses against him, while denying involvement in illegal mining activities on a concession where he serves as director.
NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako denied in court that he authorised mining on Akonta Mining's concession, saying his arrangement with witness Henry Okum was only for land reclamation and coconut cultivation. The prosecution contends that he knowingly allowed mining activities and intentionally distanced himself from operations.
A mining engineer testifying for Chairman Wontumi's defence told the court that Ghana's mining laws require formal procedures and ministerial approval for assignment of mineral rights, and that verbal permission cannot constitute a valid transfer. Wontumi faces six counts of allegedly permitting mining on his concession without prior ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining.
A case management hearing in the Samreboi mining case involving Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako has been concluded, with the court adjourning proceedings to May 14, 2026. Chairman Wontumi and co-accused are on trial for allegedly transferring mining rights in Akonta Mining's Samreboi concession to a third party without approval from the Minister responsible for Mines.