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 sentencing would serve as a deterrent to others involved in the practice.
He argued that the judge should have given Wontumi the maximum fine of 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.
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.
Wontumi and Akonta Mining have been found guilty on six charges; each count carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years’ imprisonment.
The six charges involved Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited and Kwame Antwi, who remains at large.
The charges, according to JoyNews, included: “Assignment of mineral rights without approval against Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.
Assignment of mineral rights without approval against Kwame Antwi.
Assignment of mineral rights without approval against Akonta Mining Company Limited.
Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation against Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.
Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation against Kwame Antwi.
Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation against Akonta Mining Company Limited.
It will be recalled that Wontumi had earlier pleaded not guilty to all charges when he was arraigned on October 7, 2025, and maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Earlier, the Accra High Court dismissed an application by lawyers for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking to defer judgment.
The High Court dismissed Atta Akyea’s application seeking to defer judgment aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation, before proceeding to deliver its judgment in the Samreboi mining case.
The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ruled that the application for adjournment lacked merit after defence counsel informed the court that substantive lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea was out of the country and would return on July 22.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay refused the request, stating that if counsel had a prior engagement, the court ought to have been informed earlier.
“The law on adjournment is for the convenience of the court and lies within the discretion of the court. This court cannot grant the request. The application for adjournment is refused,” the judge ruled. The court has discretion on how a motion should be dealt with. The application need not necessarily be moved. Once the application is filed, it is properly before the court. I deem it moved,” Justice Kocuvie-Tay said.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay subsequently dismissed the application, proceeding with the delivery of judgment.
@ghnow_ Lawyer for Chairman Wontumi visibly emotional after sentencing #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Sympathizers of Chairman Wontumi expressed displeasure with the sentencing #GHnow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
