Accra High Court Jails NPP Ashanti Chairman Wontumi for 20 Years Over Illegal Mining
The Accra High Court has sentenced Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, to 20 years in prison for each of two counts of illegal mining at the Samreboi concession.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Wontumi to run the terms concurrently. Wontumi was also fined 10,000 penalty units (equivalent to GH¢120,000) on each count, with a default sentence of three years imprisonment if the fine is unpaid. The custodial sentence and default term are to run concurrently.
Wontumi was convicted under the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 and its amendment Act 995. He was found guilty of assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and purposefully facilitating unlawful mining activities. His company, Akonta Mining Limited, was also convicted on similar counts and fined 15,000 penalty units each. The court found the prosecution proved all the essential elements of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.
Wontumi, the controlling mind and de facto director of Akonta Mining, was arrested during a police anti-illegal mining operation at the Samreboi concession on April 16–17, 2025. Officers recovered excavators, firearms, vehicles, and cash. Wontumi was accused of assigning rights and facilitating mining operations without ministerial approval. The defence claimed the activities were limited to land reclamation and coconut plantation work, but the court dismissed this claim, citing unchallenged witness testimony and evidence of Wontumi introducing a third party to acquire equipment. The judge also lifted the corporate veil of Akonta Mining, holding Wontumi personally liable due to the company’s non-functional board structure.
Kwame Antwi, Wontumi’s brother, is still wanted in connection with the case. Justice Kocuvie-Tay rejected the defence’s arguments for a delay or referral of constitutional questions to the Supreme Court, stating that the relevant provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act were clear and unambiguous.
Before sentencing, defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea pleaded for leniency, highlighting Wontumi’s first-time offence, family responsibilities, consistent court attendance, cooperation with investigators, and contributions to his community as an employer. Despite these factors, the court imposed the 20-year term, within the statutory range of 15–25 years for the offences.
A separate hearing will be held to consider the Republic’s application for the forfeiture of seized items from the 2025 operation including excavators and other equipment.
