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Claim: Several Facebook users claim that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was not jailed for his involvement in illegal mining (galamsey).
Verdict: FALSE! The Accra High Court convicted Wontumi on two counts directly tied to illegal mining — assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval, and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation — and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Full Text
Following the conviction of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), by an Accra High Court on July 20, 2026, some Facebook users have taken to the platform to claim that he was not actually jailed for his involvement in illegal mining activities. Some of these posts have garnered over 3,000 reactions each, spreading widely across the social media platform.
A typical post read by a user with the name P.K Sarpong :
“Chairman Wontumi has not been jailed for galamsey, financial loss to the state, or misappropriation of public funds. The core allegation is that a third party conducted illegal mining operations on a concession associated with him.”
Another user, Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, former CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, claimed;
“Chairman Wontumi wasn’t jailed for galamsey.
He wasn’t jailed for causing financial loss.
He wasn’t jailed for stealing public funds.
He wasn’t jailed for destroying the environment…
The NPP projects bureau account also claimed
“Claims that Chairman Wontumi was convicted because of galamsey are false… with a video reference of Kwasi Botchway..”
The claims have gone viral with over 3000 reactions, with many users sharing and reacting to it.
Some of the comments from the post were ” Free Wontumi, ” “Time will tell”
But what does the court judgment actually say? Due to the virality and possibility of misleading people, DUBAWA decided to investigate the claim.
Verification
DUBAWA obtained and reviewed the certified judgment in The Republic vs. Bernard Antwi Boasiako & 2 Others, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the High Court’s Criminal Court 4 on July 20, 2026.
Wontumi was arraigned alongside his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited, on six counts arising from mining activity discovered at the company’s concession in Samreboi, Western Region, following a police operation in April 2025 that the judgment itself describes as an “anti-galamsey” exercise.
He was convicted on two of those counts: assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval, and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
The Charges
The judgment shows that Wontumi was arraigned on six counts alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited, where he served as a director and shareholder. The charges included:
1. Count One: Assignment of mineral rights without approval, contrary to Section 14(1) and Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended.
2. Count Four: Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the same Act.
Screenshot the charges in the judgment
The Court’s findings
The court, presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, found Wontumi guilty on both counts.
According to the judgment, Wontumi had permitted one Henry Okum, a small-scale miner, to enter the concession of Akonta Mining Company Limited at Samreboi in the Western Region to conduct mining operations. This was done without the prior written approval of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, as required by law.
The court also found that Wontumi allowed Okum and his employees, including Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to mine the unmined portions of the concession, while using proceeds from the illegal mining to fund land reclamation on already-mined portions.
Key findings from the judgment include:
– The court lifted the corporate veil of Akonta Mining Company Limited, finding that Wontumi was the “true and de facto mineral rights holder” and that there was no real difference between him and the company.
– The court rejected Wontumi’s defence that he only permitted Okum to carry out land reclamation, describing his explanation as an “afterthought”.
– The court noted that Okum was a small-scale miner with no previous experience in land reclamation, and that no funds were provided for the reclamation work—raising questions about why any person would agree to such an arrangement.
The Sentence
The court sentenced Wontumi as follows:
– Count One: 20 years imprisonment with hard labour, and a fine of 10,000 penalty units. In default of the fine, an additional 3 years in hard labour.
– Count Four: 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, and a fine of 10,000 penalty units. In default of the fine, an additional 3 years in hard labour.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Wontumi will serve a total of 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. He is also required to pay the fines or serve an additional 3 years in hard labour.
Akonta Mining Company Limited was also found guilty and fined 15,000 penalty units on each of the two counts against it.
Additional consequences
The court also ordered that all items retrieved from the concession, including 25 serviceable excavators, four non-serviceable excavators, firearms, motorcycles, vehicles, and GHC 157,000.00, be forfeited to the State.
Conclusion
Contrary to the claims circulating on Facebook, the High Court’s judgment clearly shows that Chairman Wontumi was not merely fined or exonerated. He was convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, along with a substantial fine. The claim that he was not jailed for his involvement in galamsey is therefore false and misleading.
The judgment is a matter of public record, and the sentencing is explicit in its terms of imprisonment.
