Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been hit with another set of criminal charges for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
This development comes barely 24 hours after he was charged by the Office of the Attorney-General with six mining-related offences and granted GH₵15 million bail after pleading not guilty. In the earlier case, he was also placed on a stop list as part of investigations into alleged unauthorised mining operations by his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, at Samreboi.
In this new case before the High Court in Accra, Wontumi, together with four others and his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, faces seven additional charges relating to illegal mining, environmental destruction, and obstruction of forestry officials.
The case deepens the legal troubles of the NPP regional chairman, whose name has frequently been linked with controversies surrounding illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.
According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed in 2022 and involve acts contrary to key provisions of Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended, and the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243) as amended by Act 624.
The first three counts accuse Akonta Mining Company Limited and its key officials, including Wontumi, the company’s general manager, Edward Akuoku, and its operations manager, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (alias Sly, currently at large), of carrying out mining activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without a valid licence granted by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Prosecutors say that despite Akonta Mining’s request for a permit being declined by the Ministry, the company went ahead to undertake large-scale mining operations inside the forest reserve, contrary to Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act.
Unlawfully Felled Trees
Count Four of the charge sheet alleges that Akonta Mining Company Limited unlawfully felled over 300 merchantable trees and numerous saplings within the forest reserve without written authority. This, according to prosecutors, constitutes a breach of Section 1(1)(a) of the Forest Protection Act.
The fifth count accuses Wontumi and three others of abetting the unauthorised felling of trees, an act that violates both the Forest Protection Act and Section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The sixth charge concerns the unlawful erection of structures in the forest reserve without written permission, while the final charge accuses Wontumi and his co-defendants of abetting the unauthorised construction of such buildings — all in contravention of Section 1(1)(b) of NRCD 243.
Court documents reveal that Akonta Mining Company Limited was incorporated in 2010, with Bernard Antwi Boasiako and one Kwame Antwi (who remains at large) listed as shareholders and directors.
However, investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) established that Wontumi has exercised complete control over the company’s operations since its formation.
Prosecution sources stated that in August 2022, Akonta Mining applied to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for a permit to mine in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve. The Ministry, however, declined the request.
Despite the refusal, forestry officials reportedly discovered heavy-duty excavators and other mining machinery branded with Akonta Mining’s logo actively engaged in mining operations inside the protected forest.
Investigators found that the illegal mining activities caused extensive environmental degradation, including pollution of the Tano River, the destruction of natural vegetation, and the felling of hundreds of trees over an estimated 13-hectare area.
These operations, according to the prosecution, had a severe impact on the forest ecosystem, threatening biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the river.
Incident of Confrontation
The charge sheet also details an incident of confrontation between Akonta Mining’s armed personnel and a team from the Forestry Commission who attempted to halt the illegal operations and seize mining equipment.
The forestry officers were reportedly forced to retreat after being confronted by the company’s guards and compelled to return the seized machinery before leaving the site.
Following these developments, the CID launched an investigation into Akonta Mining’s activities, which led to the arrest of Chairman Wontumi and two other suspects. Two of the accused persons — including the company’s operations manager — are currently on the run.
The prosecution contends that the conduct of Wontumi and his associates demonstrates blatant disregard for Ghana’s environmental and mining laws, particularly those designed to protect forest reserves and water bodies from illegal exploitation.
The state intends to rely on witness testimonies, documentary evidence, and expert environmental assessments to establish its case against the accused persons.
The hearing of the case is expected to continue this afternoon, with the prosecution set to present its first batch of evidence before the court. If found guilty, the accused could face substantial fines, forfeiture of assets, and possible custodial sentences.
Chairman Wontumi’s legal battles have drawn significant public attention, especially as they unfold against the backdrop of Ghana’s intensifying national campaign against illegal mining. The issue remains a politically charged one, with increasing calls for accountability and stricter enforcement of environmental laws.
As the case proceeds, it is expected to test the state’s resolve to clamp down on illegal mining activities, regardless of the political or social status of those involved.
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