The Accra High Court has sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour after convicting him of illegal mining offences.
The court also convicted his company, Akonta Mining, over illegal mining activities at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
The sentence was delivered on Monday, July 20, after the court found Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining guilty of the offences.
The ruling follows a trial centred on allegations of illegal mining operations at the company’s concession in Samreboi.
According to TV3’s Laud Adu Asare, who was in court, lawyers for Chairman Wontumi appealed to the court to impose a lighter sentence, arguing that he was a first-time offender.
The defence also told the court that their client was remorseful, although he appeared visibly angry during proceedings.
Bernard Owiredu Donkor, appearing as a friend of the court, urged the judge to temper justice with mercy.
He argued that Chairman Wontumi is an established businessman whose companies employ thousands of young people, warning that the collapse of those businesses could have significant economic consequences.
Despite the appeals, the court sentenced Chairman Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for the illegal mining offences.
More to come….
