The High Court in Accra has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after he failed to appear in court without permission.
Chairman Wontumi, who is facing charges linked to the operations of Akonta Mining Company Limited, is accused of facilitating unlicensed mining and assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval. The case stems from alleged illegal mining activities in Samreboi in 2024.
When the case was called on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, both Wontumi and his lawyers were absent without explanation. The judge, noting their absence and lack of communication, ordered his immediate arrest.
Wontumi was earlier granted GH¢15 million bail on October 7, with three sureties, two of whom were required to justify with landed property.
The Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, had argued for strict bail conditions, citing the gravity of the offences and concerns that Wontumi had not been cooperative during investigations.
The charges, filed by the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, include multiple counts of assigning mineral rights without approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended.
Investigations revealed that Wontumi has been in full control of Akonta Mining’s operations despite claims that his co-director, Kwame Antwi, has been missing since the company’s registration in 2010.
During a police operation in April 2025 at Akonta Mining’s Samreboi concession, officers retrieved eight pump-action guns, a single-barreled gun, five pieces of suspected gold, 310 cartridges, 29 suspects, 25 excavators, two vehicles, four motorbikes, and GH¢157,000 in cash.
The Attorney General’s office has indicated that the state will seek a forfeiture order for all seized assets at the conclusion of the trial.
