The High Court in Accra has granted a GH₵15m bail with three sureties to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following charges filed against him for his alleged involvement in illegal mining activities.
Chairman Wontumi, together with Akonta Mining Company Limited and one other person, is facing six charges, including the unlawful assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the case, granted Wontumi a bail of GH₵15 million with three sureties—two of whom must justify with landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered the deposit of his passport with the registrar, directed that he be placed on the immigration stop list at all entry and exit points, and mandated him to report to investigators twice monthly—on the first and third Monday of each month.
Investigators are also required to submit monthly compliance reports directly to the presiding judge.
The prosecution has been given three weeks to file all necessary disclosures before the next hearing, which has been fixed for October 28, 2025.
The case stems from a special police operation in the Samreboi area in April this year, which led to the arrest of 29 individuals within Akonta Mining’s concession and the retrieval of weapons, excavators, and cash.
The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who signed the charge sheet, accuses Wontumi of unlawfully authorizing mining operations on the company’s concession without ministerial approval.
