Wontumi Receives Sad News In Prison

The state has closed its case against former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in a trial involving alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The prosecution announced the closure on February 4, 2026, after its fourth and final witness completed his testimony before the Accra High Court. The witnesses included two individuals linked to mining activities on the concession, a police investigator and an expert from the Minerals Commission.

The case involved allegations that Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited allowed mining activities on the company’s concession without obtaining the necessary approval from the sector minister.

The accused persons faced charges relating to the alleged unauthorised assignment of mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining operations. Wontumi and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the prosecution closed its case, Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, asked the court for four weeks to prepare a submission of no case to answer. The defence wanted the court to dismiss the charges on the grounds that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence to require the accused persons to open their defence.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, directed the defence to file its submission within 14 days instead of the four weeks requested.

The court subsequently dismissed the no-case submission on March 16, 2026, and ordered Wontumi and the relevant co-accused to open their defence.

The case has since progressed beyond the closure of the prosecution’s case. On July 20, 2026, the High Court convicted Wontumi on all six charges relating to the Samreboi mining concession.

The development marked a major stage in the legal proceedings involving the NPP politician and his mining company.

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