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Monday, 24 August 2026
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Monday, 24 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay

Also known as: Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay

2026-04-282026-08-24

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. Joy Online

    An Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, convicted Boasiako on charges connected to illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

    Wontumi to file nomination for NPP National Chairman position on August 27 despite 20-year prison sentence
  3. Joy Online

    The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found him guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and purposely facilitating unlicensed mining operations.

    Incarcerated Wontumi picks nomination form for NPP chairmanship bid from prison
  4. The Chronicle

    On July 20, this year, the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, convicted Wontumi and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for facilitating illegal mining activities on a Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

    Court adjourns Wontumi’s application for bail to October 15
  5. Joy Online

    Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 am on Monday, July 20, 2026, bringing to an end one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions.

    Wontumi’s incarceration will not stop his chairmanship bid – Palgrave
  6. Joy Online

    In a statement dated Tuesday, August 11, and signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said it was “deeply troubled” by the Chief Justice’s defence of the warrants granted to Justices Francis Achibonga and Audrey Kocuvie-Tay.

    NPP accuses Chief Justice of partisan bias over vacation trial warrants
  7. Joy Online

    Read also: Wontumi applies for bail pending appeal after imprisonment at Nsawam Prison Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay on July 20, 2026, sentenced Mr Boasiako to 20 years in prison with hard labour after finding him guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the req

    Wontumi appeal has no reasonable chance of success – AG opposes bail application
  8. July 2026
  9. Joy Online

    The appeal, jointly filed by Mr Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited, follows their conviction by the Accra High Court (Criminal Division 4), presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, on July 20, 2026.

    Wontumi challenges conviction, files appeal against High Court judgment
  10. Joy Online

    READ ALSO: Court convicts Wontumi on six illegal mining charges over Samreboi concession Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 am on Monday, July 20, 2026, bringing to an end one of the co

    ORAL is still working and prosecuting corruption cases – Deputy AG
  11. Joy Online

    In her 59-page judgment, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay said the sentence was intended to serve as a deterrent and underscore the seriousness of environmental crimes.

    Wontumi knew he would be convicted – Appiah-Kubi
  12. Joy Online

    Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the Criminal Division of the High Court, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 a.m.

    Atta Akyea says AG’s position supports Wontumi’s no-case submission argument

Today

  1. Convicted ex-Ashanti Chairman Wontumi files NPP national chairmanship bid

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), convicted of illegal mining and serving a 20-year prison sentence, will file his nomination for the NPP National Chairman position on August 27, 2026. His campaign team says he should be able to pursue the party's established candidacy processes, though a legal team has applied for bail pending his appeal.

    6 hours ago · Joy Online

Friday 21 August

  1. Imprisoned Wontumi pursues NPP chairmanship nomination from prison

    NPP National Chairman hopeful Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, has picked nomination forms to contest the party's National Chairman position despite currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for offences linked to illegal mining activities. His campaign team stated they are continuing his bid and believe the party should allow him to go through its established processes, though they acknowledge any legal or constitutional impediment would be determined by the appropriate authority.

    21 August 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 20 August

  1. Court adjourns Wontumi's bail application to October 15

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP serving a 20-year sentence for facilitating illegal mining activities, sought bail pending appeal. The High Court adjourned his application to October 15, 2026, due to the indisposition of the judge scheduled to hear it.

    20 August 2026 · The Chronicle

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Wontumi's supporters to file nomination forms despite incarceration

    Supporters of imprisoned former Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) will pick up and submit his NPP national chairmanship nomination forms this week, according to his spokesperson Dr Palgrave Boakye-Dankwah, who argues nothing legally prevents this despite constitutional questions about his eligibility.

    19 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 11 August

  1. NPP accuses Chief Justice of partisan bias over trial warrants

    The New Patriotic Party has accused Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie of exhibiting partisan disposition and facilitating selective justice by issuing special warrants for two High Court judges to conduct substantive criminal trials during the legal vacation. The party questioned why only these two courts were authorised to conduct full criminal trials when the affected cases involve persons associated with the NPP, arguing the decision amounted to unequal treatment.

    11 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. AG opposes bail for Wontumi, says appeal lacks reasonable chance

    The Attorney-General has filed processes opposing Bernard Antwi Boasiako's (Chairman Wontumi) bail application pending appeal, arguing his appeal has no reasonable chance of success and there are no special circumstances warranting release. Boasiako was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour in July 2026 for illegal mining offences at Samreboi in the Western Region.

    11 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 28 July

  1. Chairman Wontumi appeals Samreboi illegal mining conviction

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and Akonta Mining Company Limited have filed an appeal against their conviction by the Accra High Court in the Samreboi illegal mining case, challenging the entire judgment and arguing the convictions are unreasonable and unsupported by trial evidence.

    28 July 2026 · Joy Online

Sunday 26 July

  1. Deputy AG affirms ORAL initiative still prosecuting corruption cases

    Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has dismissed claims that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative is no longer active, stating the team continues to pursue cases and recover public resources. He cited the prosecution of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), whose case concluded within two months, as evidence of ORAL's effectiveness.

    26 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Wontumi's lawyer claims NPP chair knew verdict beforehand

    Private legal practitioner Andy Appiah-Kubi, formerly Wontumi's lawyer, claims the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP had prior knowledge of his conviction in the Samreboi illegal mining case before judgment was delivered, and that Wontumi had told him he would be sentenced to 20 years. Appiah-Kubi disagrees with the conviction, arguing the court wrongly treated Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining as one entity, and says this will form the basis of the appeal.

    26 July 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 25 July

  1. Wontumi's counsel claims AG position supports no-case submission

    Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), argues that comments attributed to the Attorney-General suggest the trial judge should have upheld the defence's no-case submission, contending the prosecution failed to present sufficiently strong evidence against his client.

    25 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Atta Akyea challenges court's illegal mining evidence assessment for Wontumi

    Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), disputes the High Court's findings in his client's illegal mining conviction, arguing the prosecution failed to prove Wontumi sanctioned illegal mining and that the court wrongly interpreted earth-moving equipment on the concession as evidence of mining rather than land reclamation.

    25 July 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Atta Akyea signals appeal challenge to Wontumi mining conviction

    Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Wontumi), says the Court of Appeal must review the trial judge's interpretation of mining assignment law after Wontumi's conviction for illegal mining on the Samreboi concession and sentence of 20 years imprisonment plus a fine of 10,000 penalty units (GH¢120,000).

    25 July 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Justice must not be tied to political calendar, Wontumi's counsel argues

    Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, has cautioned against political influence in judicial administration, arguing that the justice system must remain independent and that prosecutions should not be fast-tracked to meet political agendas or government timelines.

    25 July 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Wontumi's lead counsel criticises pace of illegal mining prosecution

    Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has criticised what he describes as "indecent haste" in prosecuting politically exposed persons, arguing that his client's illegal mining case was handled at an unusually fast pace compared to ordinary criminal and civil cases in Ghana's courts.

    25 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 23 July

  1. Chairman Wontumi sentenced to 20 years prison, GH¢120,000 fine

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined GH¢120,000 for permitting others to mine on his company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. During sentencing, two unaffiliated lawyers stepped in to plead for a reduced sentence when the accused's own counsel appeared to struggle in mitigation.

    23 July 2026 · Daily Guide

  2. CHRAJ denies Deputy Commissioner sentenced Chairman Wontumi

    The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has dismissed as false social media claims that its Deputy Commissioner Mercy Larbi presided over the High Court proceedings that sentenced NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako to 20 years' imprisonment, stating she neither presided over the case nor played any role in the proceedings.

    23 July 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Former NPP official urges party unity amid Wontumi sentencing

    Dr Sammy Crabbe, former NPP National First Vice Chairman, has called on party members to remain united and support Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) following his conviction on illegal mining charges. The Accra High Court sentenced Wontumi to 20 years' imprisonment plus a fine of 10,000 penalty units over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NPP ex-secretary backs Wontumi after galamsey conviction

    Former NPP General Secretary John Boadu has expressed support for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Wontumi), who was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for illegal mining offences on the Samreboi concession. Boadu called him a "Political Prisoner" and urged NPP members to remain united while the party pursues legal challenge to the High Court's decision.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Chairman Wontumi's conviction signals shift against political impunity

    An opinion piece argues that Chairman Wontumi's 20-year sentence represents a turning point in enforcing the law against politically connected figures, and calls for scrutiny of former officials over their handling of illegal mining complaints allegedly involving politically exposed persons.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

  4. High Court delivers Akonta Mining judgment on galamsey

    A High Court judgment in The Republic v. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), Kwame Antwi, and Akonta Mining Company Limited addresses regulatory and criminal frameworks governing mineral exploitation, with implications for corporate governance, statutory compliance, and the fight against galamsey.

    22 July 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 21 July

  1. CEO denies influencing Wontumi trial or judge relationship

    Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has denied claims that a personal relationship with the trial judge influenced the outcome of the illegal mining case against NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako. He described as "fabrication" reports that he expressed confidence Wontumi would be convicted because the judge was his sister-in-law.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Wontumi's 20-year mining conviction triggers Ghana constitutional challenge

    Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of Ghana's opposition NPP, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by Accra High Court for illegal mining. The Minority Caucus in Parliament has launched a formal challenge against the judgment, citing procedural irregularities including the absence of the lead defence counsel at verdict delivery, arguing this violated the constitutional right to counsel of choice.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  3. NPP chairman's aide recounts final words before conviction

    Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson for New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), says his last conversation with the convicted politician was a charge to continue working for the party and return it to power. Boakye-Danquah characterized the conviction as unexpected and argued it represented political victimization.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Former MP questions judge handling multiple NPP cases

    Former New Edubiase MP George Oduro has questioned Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay's handling of Bernard Antwi Boasiako's galamsey trial, alleging the judge's conduct raised concerns. Oduro questioned why one judge is handling several NPP-related cases despite the availability of many High Court judges across Ghana.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  5. NPP chairmanship candidate Wontumi's campaign reviews future after jail sentence

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), an aspirant for NPP national chairmanship, has not yet decided whether to continue his campaign following a recent jail sentence. His campaign manager said the team will consult with the NPP General Secretary and other stakeholders within a week to determine the way forward.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  6. NPP Chairman Wontumi sentenced to 40 years for illegal mining

    The Criminal Division 4 of the High Court in Accra has convicted Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) and sentenced him to 40 years' imprisonment with hard labour for offences under the Minerals and Mining Act arising from illegal mining activities at Samreboi. The court also convicted Akonta Mining Limited while the second accused remains at large.

    21 July 2026 · The Chronicle

  7. Civil society group hails Wontumi conviction, calls for mining law enforcement

    Lands and Mines Watch Ghana welcomed the Accra High Court's conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and Akonta Mining Company Limited for unlawful mining activities, and urged stronger action against illegal mining. The group said the judgment reinforces that Ghana's mining laws apply equally to all persons and companies regardless of political status.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

  8. Lands and Mines Watch hails Wontumi conviction for illegal mining

    Civil society group Lands and Mines Watch Ghana welcomed the conviction and sentencing of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited by the Accra High Court, calling it a landmark moment that reinforces the equal application of Ghana's mining laws regardless of political status.

    21 July 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 20 July

  1. Minority challenges Wontumi's mining conviction on procedural grounds

    The Minority Caucus in Parliament has objected to the 20-year prison sentence handed down to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) on two counts under the Minerals and Mining Act, alleging procedural irregularities including denial of counsel and selective prosecution, and vowing to appeal to higher courts.

    20 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Accra High Court sentences Chairman Wontumi to 20 years

    The Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

    20 July 2026 · Joy Online

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute