Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has described the conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) as fair and well-reasoned, noting the judge's sound analysis. Kpebu cited the prosecution's evidence, including testimony from a witness who admitted carrying out illegal mining activities and stated that Wontumi had given him access to the concession where the mining took place.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu argues that NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako's conviction was inevitable given prosecution witness testimony, particularly from the person who conducted the mining activities and testified that Wontumi gave him access to the concession. Kpebu described the case as "an open and shut case" because the mining activities were unauthorised and the witness testimony went uncontradicted.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
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 →
The NPP has disputed the Accra High Court's conviction of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) on illegal mining charges, arguing the verdict was based on assumptions rather than proof beyond reasonable doubt and that no evidence demonstrated an unlawful assignment of his mineral concession.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The NPP's General Secretary has accused the government of using the conviction of the party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), to divert attention from Ghana's pressing national challenges. Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and fined 10,000 penalty units over illegal mining activities.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, has been transferred to Nsawam Medium Security Prison to serve a 20-year sentence following his conviction for illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units (GH¢120,000), with an additional three-year default sentence if unpaid.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Former Government Spokesperson Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has expressed disappointment over the Accra High Court's decision to convict NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) to 20 years' imprisonment over illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region, arguing the evidence did not establish Wontumi's personal involvement.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining has commended investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor's reporting on illegal mining and called on the government to expand investigations into all individuals and networks implicated in galamsey, rather than treating the conviction of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) as an isolated case.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Accra High Court sentenced Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, to 20 years imprisonment and a 10,000 penalty units fine (GH¢120,000) for illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. He was convicted on all six counts including assigning mineral rights without approval and facilitating an unlicensed mining operation under the Minerals and Mining Act.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →