The Office of the Attorney-General has filed a six-count criminal charge sheet at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra against Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), over alleged breaches of Ghana’s mining laws.
He has been charged alongside Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining Company Limited, the mining firm owned by Wontumi. The second accused person, Kwame Antwi, is reportedly at large.
The charges stem from alleged unauthorised mining activities that took place in Samreboi, located in the Western Region, and invoke multiple provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
The case, filed on October 6, 2025, is being led by Dr Dominic Ayine, representing the Attorney-General’s Office.
Details of the Charges
1. Assignment of mineral rights without approval
In the first count, prosecutors allege that in 2024, Wontumi permitted two individuals, Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to conduct mining operations within Akonta Mining’s concession without the required written approval from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
This, according to the state, violates Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.
2. Assignment of mineral rights without approval (Kwame Antwi)
The second count mirrors the first, but is directed at Kwame Antwi, who, as a director of Akonta Mining, is accused of permitting the same unauthorised mining activities in contravention of the law.
3. Corporate liability for unauthorised assignment
The third count is brought against Akonta Mining Company Limited, alleging that the company permitted mining activities on its concession without obtaining ministerial consent — a breach of Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of Act 703 as amended.
4. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining (Wontumi)
Under the fourth count, Wontumi is accused of deliberately facilitating unlicensed mining by individuals who lacked the necessary authorisation from the Minister. The prosecution contends that he aided Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine unlawfully within the company’s concession.
5. Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining (Kwame Antwi)
Similarly, the fifth count accuses Kwame Antwi of facilitating illegal mining activities within Akonta Mining’s concession, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act.
6. Corporate facilitation of unlicensed mining
The sixth and final count targets Akonta Mining Company Limited itself, alleging that the company allowed and benefited from unlicensed mining operations on its concession — an act considered a corporate offence under Section 99(2)(b) of the Act.
The charges underscore the government’s heightened commitment to enforcing Ghana’s mining laws and cracking down on illegal mining (galamsey), which continues to threaten the country’s environment and mineral resources.
Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act prohibits the transfer or assignment of mineral rights without the approval of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, while Section 99(2)(b) criminalises the facilitation or enabling of mining without a valid licence.
If convicted, the accused persons could face severe penalties, including fines and custodial sentences, as well as potential revocation of corporate operating licences.
The Wontumi–Akonta Mining case is expected to test the boundaries of corporate and individual liability under Ghana’s mining laws. Legal analysts believe it could set a precedent for how directors and companies are held accountable for illegal mining activities under their watch.
The proceedings, once underway, will be closely monitored by both industry stakeholders and environmental advocates, as Ghana intensifies its campaign against unlawful mining operations across the country.
