An Accra High Court has sentenced Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for offences related to unlawful mining activities.
The court also fined him GH¢120,000. In default, he is to serve three years’ imprisonment.
Akonta Mining Company Limited, the third accused, was fined GH¢180,000.
The custodial sentences are to run concurrently.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, who presided, delivered the judgement after finding Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited guilty on six counts of assigning mineral rights without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources and purposely facilitating unlicensed mining operations.
The court said it considered the gravity of the offences and the devastating effects of illegal mining on the country before passing sentence.
It held that the offences contributed to environmental degradation despite the country’s mining regulations.
The court ordered the confiscation to the State of five single-barrel guns, several water pumping machines, 24 serviceable excavators, four unserviceable excavators and GH¢157,000 seized during a Police operation at the concession.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay described Boasiako as “a Defactor minerals rights holder.”
The court held that he had no written agreement with Henry Okoom, a small-scale miner engaged to undertake reclamation works.
It said Mr Okoom’s evidence showed that Boasiako did not provide money for the reclamation exercise.
According to the court, Mr Okoom testified that Boasiako instructed him to undertake mining and reclamation. The witness said proceeds from the mined gold were to finance the reclamation works.
The court accepted that Boasiako did not personally visit the Samreboi concession.
However, it held that as the holder of the mineral rights, he had a duty to supervise activities on the concession.
The court also found that he failed to obtain the required ministerial approval before mining activities were undertaken.
The prosecution called four witnesses. The defence also called four witnesses.
Earlier, the court dismissed an application to defer judgement.
In mitigation, Mr Charles Boakye, holding brief for Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, said Boasiako was a first-time offender with no previous criminal record.
He urged the court to deal with him leniently, saying Boasiako had conducted himself well throughout the trial.
Mr Bernard Owuredu, appearing as a friend of the court, urged the court to consider the businesses owned by Boasiako and the jobs they provided.
He said the collapse of those businesses would affect many workers.
Mr Paul Asibi Abarigah, also appearing as a friend of the court, appealed to the court to impose the minimum sentence.
The offences arose from mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region in 2024.
The court found that Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Limited permitted Henry Okoom and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to undertake mining activities on the company’s concession without first obtaining approval from the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources.
The court held that the conduct facilitated unauthorised mining operations.
The prosecution said Police conducted an operation at the concession on April 16, 2025.
Cash, excavators and other equipment were seized.
The court heard that Kwame Antwi, a co-director of Akonta Mining Company Limited and an alleged accomplice, remains at large.