Chairman Wontumi challenges 20-year prison sentence with appeal

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has filed an appeal against a 20-year prison sentence imposed by the Accra High Court on July 20, 2026, after his conviction on six illegal mining charges.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court convicted Wontumi of offences linked to illegal mining on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on Wontumi, with a three-year default prison term to run concurrently should he fail to pay.

Wontumi was convicted on all six charges, including assigning mineral rights without the required ministerial approval and intentionally facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended. Under the law, the offences attract a custodial sentence ranging from 15 to 25 years.

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Defence plea rejected

Before sentencing, defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea urged the court to impose the minimum 15-year sentence prescribed by law. He argued that Wontumi had cooperated with investigators throughout the trial, appeared before the court whenever required, expressed remorse and had no previous criminal convictions. The defence also cited Wontumi's contributions to his community and his responsibilities as a family man. Justice Kocuvie-Tay rejected the plea and imposed the 20-year custodial sentence after considering submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.

Company sanctioned separately

The High Court also sanctioned Akonta Mining Company Limited, the company linked to Wontumi, but stopped short of imposing a custodial sentence. Instead, the company was fined after the court took mitigating factors into account.

Political backing for appeal

John Peter Amewu, former Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has backed Wontumi's decision to appeal his conviction and sentence. Amewu described the 20-year punishment as severe and raised questions about proportionality and fairness in the administration of justice.

Amewu stressed that his comments were not opposition to the judiciary or the legal process. He reaffirmed his respect for the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional processes available to every citizen. He maintained that the fight against illegal mining must remain firm and non-partisan while being conducted in a manner that preserves justice, proportionality, due process, and public confidence in the legal system.

The case centred on allegations that Wontumi, together with Akonta Mining and an associate, allowed mining activities to be carried out on the company's concession at Samreboi without the approval required under Ghana's mining laws. Throughout the trial, Wontumi pleaded not guilty and mounted several legal challenges, including attempts to halt proceedings and a late application seeking constitutional interpretation of provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act.