An Accra High Court has fixed January 12, 2026, for the trial of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over alleged illegal mining activities.
Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is facing charges related to mining without a license and assigning mineral rights without approval.
The charges against Wontumi include, assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval, facilitating unlicensed mining operations, undertaking mining operations without a license, abetting unauthorized felling of trees and abetting unauthorized erection of buildings in a forest reserve
Wontumi has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been granted bail in the sum of GH₵10 million with two sureties.
The prosecution is expected to present four witnesses, and the court has fixed several dates for the trial, including January 13, 15, 19, 20, 26, 29, and February 3, 4, 10, 12, and 15.
The case stems from unauthorized mining activities allegedly carried out in Samreboi, Western Region.
The Attorney-General’s Office has filed six criminal charges against Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited, which is owned by Wontumi, for violating provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995 in 2019.
