In a dramatic development in one of Ghana’s most high-profile illegal mining cases, the High Court in Accra has granted a GHC15 million bail to Bernard Antwi Boasiako — better known as Chairman Wontumi — the controversial Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited.
Wontumi, who is at the center of allegations involving unlicensed mining and unauthorized allocation of mineral rights in Samreboi, Western Region, entered a plea of not guilty in court on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided over the bail hearing, issued the order following legal arguments from Wontumi’s defense counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, and Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai.
The Charges:
Prosecutors accuse Wontumi of using Akonta Mining to engage in illegal mining — or galamsey — without the necessary ministerial approvals in 2024. The charges strike at the heart of Ghana’s struggle to clamp down on illegal mining, which has wreaked environmental havoc and fueled political tensions nationwide.
Appiah-Kubi argued that his client is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the investigation, asserting that Wontumi is “ready to cooperate fully.”
But the prosecution wasn’t buying it — not entirely.
“A Man of Substance” Under Scrutiny
Deputy Attorney General Srem-Sai did not oppose bail outright but called for “stringent conditions,” pointing to Wontumi’s financial clout and his alleged evasiveness during investigations.
“Gold mining is a capital-intensive business, and by their own admission, the accused is a man of substance. It is common knowledge that persons of substance are often greater flight risks,” Dr. Srem-Sai told the court.
He also noted Wontumi’s delayed cooperation with investigators, reportedly showing up only after intervention from the Attorney General’s office, despite several invitations.
More troubling, according to the prosecution, is the mysterious absence of the second accused, Kwame Antwi — a co-director of Akonta Mining who remains at large. Prosecutors claim Wontumi has refused to provide information about his business partner’s whereabouts.
Bail Conditions — No Easy Way Out
Justice Kocuvie-Tay approved bail but attached a host of tight restrictions, including:
- A GHC15 million bail bond
- Three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction
- Deposit of all passports with the court registrar
- Placement on the immigration stop list at all borders
- Monthly reporting to investigators on the first and third Mondays
- Sureties to submit Ghana Cards and digital addresses
- Investigators must file monthly compliance reports to the court
What’s Next?
The prosecution now has three weeks to submit full disclosures before the next hearing on October 28, 2025.
As the case unfolds, it’s poised to test not just the government’s resolve on illegal mining, but the political implications of targeting a powerful party insider.
With Ghana’s fragile environmental future and political integrity hanging in the balance, all eyes will remain fixed on the Wontumi trial — and whether justice can indeed stand firm against “a man of substance.”
Source:TheDotNews