Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been charged alongside two others for their alleged involvement in illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining Limited.

The trio face six charges, including unlawfully assigning a mining concession without the Minister’s approval and facilitating unauthorized mining operations.

Also cited in the case are Kwame Antwi, said to be a co-owner and director of Akonta Mining, who is currently on the run, and the company itself, Akonta Mining Limited.
The charges stem from mining activities said to have taken place in Samreboi in the Western Region.

Security Operation and Arrests

According to court documents, a security operation on April 26, 2025, resulted in the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others found working on the Akonta Mining concession.

During questioning, Mr. Gyedu allegedly stated that he had been instructed by one Henry Okum to oversee mining operations on the land, claiming that Okum had control over the site.

Investigators said Mr. Gyedu told them that while his team had begun reclamation on previously mined areas, they were also actively mining on sections that had not yet been worked on.

Link to Chairman Wontumi

Further investigations revealed that Henry Okum confessed to obtaining permission from Chairman Wontumi to operate within the Samreboi concession, believing the property belonged to him.

Authorities claim Mr. Boasiako granted this authorization without the necessary written consent from the Minister responsible for mining a violation of Ghana’s mineral and mining laws.

Items Recovered from Site

Security personnel reportedly seized a variety of items during the operation, including:

• 8 pump-action guns
• 1 single-barreled gun
• 5 metal pieces suspected to be gold, found in a sachet
• 4 machetes
• Several water pumping machines
• 310 AAA/BB cartridges
• 1 grease gun
• 4 motorcycles
• 2 vehicles
• Cash amounting to ₵157,000
• 25 serviceable excavators
• 4 unserviceable excavators

The prosecution has announced its intention to request a forfeiture order for all valuable items retrieved from the site once the trial concludes.

Please leave this field empty

Don’t miss the next post—join our mailing list for free!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

You’re in! Thanks for joining the NSG News family. Our next post is coming soon—keep an eye out.