Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been arraigned again on charges related to illegal mining activities allegedly undertaken by his company, Akonta Mining Limited.
Chairman Wontumi is facing the charges alongside four others: the company itself, Akonta Mining Limited; its General Manager, Edward Akuoko; Operations Manager, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah; and a co-director of the company, Kwame Antwi, who, along with Bempah, is currently said to be at large.
Charges
-Undertaking mining operations without a licence
-Felling trees in a forest reserve without authorisation
-Abetting the unauthorised felling of trees
-Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without approval
Brief Facts of the Case
According to the charge sheet, Akonta Mining Company Limited, registered in 2010, is jointly owned by Bernard Antwi Boasiako (A2) and Kwame Antwi (A3), though prosecutors claim that Wontumi has exercised sole operational control since the company’s inception. Prosecution says they are still working to verify the existence or identity of the listed co-director.
The investigation, led by the Ghana Police Service, according to the prosecution, was triggered by petitions alleging that Akonta Mining was operating unlawfully within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, despite lacking the necessary permits and approvals.
However, despite this denial, Akonta Mining allegedly transported excavators marked with the company’s branding into the forest and commenced full-scale operations.
Authorities also discovered the erection of unauthorised structures, including checkpoints and temporary housing for workers.
Prosecutors say the scale of the illegal operations was extensive, with over 40 excavators found operating within the forest. The environmental damage is described as “severe,” affecting approximately 13 hectares of protected forest land and polluting parts of the Tano River.
Armed Confrontation
The charge sheet also details a confrontation that took place on August 17, 2022, when a joint team from the Forestry Commission, Samartex Timber and Plywood Company, and members of the media visited the site.
During the operation, some Akonta workers and equipment were seized. However, as the team attempted to exit the area, they were reportedly blocked by an armed group allegedly led by Edward Akuako and Kwadwo Owusu Bempah. The team was only allowed to leave after surrendering the seized equipment to the armed men.
Arrests and Prosecution
According to Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, after multiple failed attempts to apprehend the accused—and a tense confrontation in Kumasi—law enforcement officers finally arrested Chairman Wontumi, Edward Akuoko.