Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been granted bail in the sum of GHC 15 million after appearing before the High Court in Accra on charges connected to illegal mining.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Division of the High Court.
Wontumi is facing three counts of assigning mineral rights without approval and another three counts of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
Prosecutors accuse him of permitting two individuals to carry out mining activities on his company’s concession without the required authorization from the sector minister. He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read.
His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, invoked Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, stressing that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He told the court that his client had consistently cooperated with investigators and honoured all invitations during the investigation phase.
He argued that Wontumi had demonstrated good faith and posed no flight risk, insisting that he would continue to make himself available throughout the trial.
Deputy Attorney-General Srem Sai did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose stringent conditions, citing the gravity of the offence and the potential risk of absconding.
He described illegal mining as the biggest challenge facing the country, noting that a conviction carries a sentence of 15 years, which could motivate the accused to flee if bail conditions are too relaxed.
He added that Wontumi had not fully cooperated with investigators and that it took the direct intervention of the Attorney-General to compel him to report to the police, a claim his lawyer disputed by explaining that the Attorney-General had declined a formal request for permission to report at a later date.
Srem Sai also asked the court to retain the accused person’s passport, place him on a stop list at all entry points, and set a strict reporting schedule to ensure any attempt to abscond would be detected early.
He prayed that the bail amount should be sufficient to cover the environmental damage caused should the accused fail to reappear.
After considering the arguments, Justice Kocuvie-Tay granted bail in the sum of GHC 15 million with three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the jurisdiction.
Wontumi is to deposit his passport with the Registrar of the Court, and his name will be placed on a stop list at all entry points.
The sureties must submit copies of their Ghana Cards and digital addresses to the court. He is required to report to investigators on the first and third Monday of every month and file proof of compliance.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
