By Daniel Bampoe
The Accra High Court has vacated a bench warrant it earlier issued for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after he appeared before the same judge moments following the order on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, who presided over the case, had earlier directed that the warrant be issued after both the accused and his legal team failed to appear in court at the scheduled time without providing any formal notification or excuse to the bench.
However, the warrant was vacated shortly after the NPP regional chairman made his appearance and offered explanations through his counsel.
The hearing, which was expected to continue with disclosure and case management, was subsequently adjourned to a later date.
Justice Kocuvi-Tay did not disclose the new date but advised all parties to strictly adhere to future court schedules to avoid any further procedural complications.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi is expected to appear before Criminal Court 1 on November 4, 2025, to face a separate set of charges filed earlier this month.
Background to the Case
Chairman Wontumi, along with one Kwame Antwi—believed to be a co-director of Akonta Mining Limited—and the company itself, is facing six criminal charges filed by the Attorney General’s Department.
These include three counts of assignment of mineral rights without approval and three counts of facilitating unlicensed mining operations in contravention of Sections 14(1) and 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995 in 2019.
The charges are rooted in investigations that traced illegal mining operations in the Samreboi area of the Western Region to Akonta Mining Limited, a company reportedly owned and managed by Chairman Wontumi.
The company, incorporated on November 5, 2010, with Wontumi and the alleged co-director, Kwame Antwi, as shareholders, is accused of conducting mining activities within forest reserves and restricted areas without requisite permits from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Police Operations and Seized Items
The ongoing prosecution follows a major anti-galamsey operation conducted by the Ghana Police Service on April 16 and 17, 2025, around the Samreboi enclave.
The operation led to the arrest of 29 individuals believed to be operating under Akonta Mining’s concession. Among those arrested was a site supervisor, Michael Ayisi Gyedu.
The police recovered a significant cache of weapons and equipment during the operation, including eight pump-action guns, one single-barrel gun, 310 cartridges, five suspected gold samples, 25 serviceable excavators, four unserviceable excavators, two vehicles, several motorcycles, water pumps, and GH₵157,000 in cash.
The state has since filed a motion seeking forfeiture of the seized items as part of the ongoing prosecution.
Key Testimonies and Investigations
Court filings reveal that Gyedu, during interrogation, stated that he worked under the supervision of one Henry Okum, who claimed to have been authorized by Chairman Wontumi to carry out mining operations on the concession.
Further investigations confirmed that the operations were conducted without official approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, as required by Ghana’s mining laws.
When questioned, Okum reportedly admitted to seeking Wontumi’s permission in September 2024 to begin mining activities, a request the NPP regional chairman is alleged to have approved despite the absence of a valid mining license at the time.
Political Reactions and Legal Proceedings
The case has stirred widespread political discourse, particularly because of Chairman Wontumi’s close ties with the ruling New Patriotic Party and his influential role in the Ashanti Region.
His legal team has so far filed several motions contesting the legality and fairness of the prosecution, but all have been dismissed by the High Court.
