Reports suggest that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, if convicted on all charges levelled against him in the illegal mining case at Samreboi, could face a maximum of 25 years in prison.
It will be recalled that Chairman Wontumi and other persons are standing trial for allegedly undertaking mining operations on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without the consent of the sector minister.
The state has also accused Wontumi of permitting two individuals to undertake mining activities on the concession without authority and facilitating those operations.
Wontumi’s possible sentences for his crimes if convicted are as follows:
“1. For the crime of undertaking mining operations without a licence, Wontumi faces a jail term of not less than 15 years and not more than 25 years.
2. For the crime of felling trees in a forest reserve without a licence, he faces a prison term of not more than two years.
3. He will also be required to “pay to the Commissioner responsible for Lands twice the commercial value of each tree or of the timber or forest produce which is the subject matter of the offence.”
4. For abetting the unauthorised felling of trees, he faces a prison term of not more than two years.
5. He will also be required to “pay to the Commissioner responsible for Lands twice the commercial value of each tree or of the timber or forest produce which is the subject matter of the offence.”
6. He faces the same punishment for “erecting buildings in a forest reserve without a licence” and “abetting unauthorised erection of buildings in a forest reserve.”, a report cited from GhanaWeb detailed.
Adding up all the charges and their convictions, Wontumi, if found guilty of all the crimes he has been charged with and is given the maximum sanctions, is likely to serve a prison term of 25 years maximum.
Chairman Wontumi and two others are expected to face judgment on July 3 in the high-profile illegal mining case.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai confirmed that the Accra High Court has scheduled July 3 for its final judgment in the case of The Republic vs Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and two others.
In a post shared by Justice Srem-Sai on X read, “The Accused Persons in the case – THE REPUBLIC v BERNARD ANTWI-BOASIAKO & 2 OTHERS – called their 5th and last witness today. The witness was discharged from the witness box a while ago.
That brought the entire trial to an end. The judge has scheduled July 3 for judgment”.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi, counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has said his client will be vindicated when the court delivers its judgment on July 3, 2026.
Wontumi’s Lawyer argued that the evidence and legal arguments presented by the defence strongly support their position in the ongoing case.
In a post shared by Wontumi Communications on X read, “We have put forward our case effectively within the law, and we are confident the outcome will reflect the facts presented before the court,” he stated in a telephone interview on Movement in the Morning with Kweku Dawuro.
Lawyer Appiah Kubi added that the court has directed the defence team to file its written address, which they are prepared to submit.
He expressed optimism that the strength of their legal submissions would be clear upon review, insisting that the defence remains convinced of a favourable outcome”.
“I have only been here for one and a half years” — Hon. Haruna Iddrisu
— GHnow (@ghnow_) June 11, 2026
The Education Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has responded to concerns raised by the National Association of Institutional Suppliers (NAIS), stating that he has been in office for only about one and a half… pic.twitter.com/XYLX97MUj7
