Laud Adu Asare, a 3News court correspondent, has described the demeanour of the Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Wontumi, as his sentencing was read by the Judge.
According to the Reporter, Wontumi’s initial smiles faded away as the gravity of the judgment set in.
He detailed that Wontumi’s smile faded as his face became shiny with a bit of sweat as the judgment was read.
Speaking in a video shared by TV3, 3News court correspondent Laud Adu Asare stated, “Once the reading of the sentencing started, he was smiling, some of the time. When the Judge made certain statements, you will see him visibly angry.
Getting to the latter part, he was moving a lot within the witness box, and his face became shiny with a bit of sweat, and now the smile was gone, looking a lot more worried. By the time the sentencing was given, he looked like someone who had given up”.
His comment comes on the heels of the Accra High Court sentencing Chairman Wontumi to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The presiding Judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, delivered the sentence shortly after 11:40 am on Monday, July 20, 2026, which brings an end to one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions case.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay also imposed a fine of 10,000 penalty units on Wontumi, with a default sentence of three years’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay had earlier found Wontumi guilty on all six counts, including assigning mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended.
Wontumi’s 20-year sentence falls within the statutory range of between 15 and 25 years prescribed under the law for the offences.
According to the court, the prosecution had established that Wontumi, as owner and controlling director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, allowed mining activities to take place on the Samreboi concession without the required approval from the Lands Ministry.
The High Court disclosed that Wontumi. permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining activities on the concession without obtaining the prior written approval required under Section 14(1) of Act 703.
Meanwhile, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has said the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, should have been jailed for 25 years.
According to Ken Ashigbey, Wontumi’s 20-year sentence is punitive enough, but not enough.
Ken Ashigbey, a strong advocate in the fight against illegal mining, however, stressed that Wontumi’s 20-year sentence would serve as a deterrent to others involved in the practice.
He argued that the judge should have given Wontumi the maximum fine, 25 years plus.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV, Ken Ashigbey stated, “I’m happy that this case has gone its full circle. I would have wished that the learned judge would have given 25 years plus the maximum fine, but 20 years is good enough. Yes, it’s punitive enough, but not enough”.
Ken Ashigbey further expressed hope that other Galamsey kingpins should also face similar penalties, including maximum prison terms and fines.
He called on the Mahama government to ensure that all persons found culpable in illegal mining activities are treated equally under the law.
“Other kingpins should be made to face justice,” he added.
Watch the video below:
3News court correspondent Laud Adu Asare described Chairman Wontumi's demeanor as the sentence was read, noting that his initial smiles faded away as the gravity of the judgment set in.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/bEa7JW5mVI
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) July 20, 2026
@ghnow_ If the judge has given Chairman Wontumi 20 years, we can’t do anything – Pasco Abrantie #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Friend of the court pleaded for Chairman Wontumi’s sentence to be reduced #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
