A High Court in Accra on Tuesday granted bail to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in connection with a criminal case tied to illegal mining operations allegedly conducted by his company, Akonta Mining Ltd.
Mr. Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, was granted bail in the sum of GHC15 million (approximately $1.2 million USD), with three sureties — two of whom must present justification in the form of landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. The bail decision follows his plea of not guilty to charges including facilitating unlicensed mining and unlawfully assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval.
The charges stem from alleged galamsey (illegal mining) activity in Samreboi, located in Ghana’s Western Region, in 2024.
Legal Arguments and Bail Conditions
Defense counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi argued that Mr. Boasiako posed no flight risk and had demonstrated willingness to cooperate with authorities. However, Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai called for strict bail terms, citing Mr. Boasiako’s considerable financial resources.
“Gold mining is capital-intensive, and by their own admission, the accused is a man of substance,” said Dr. Srem-Sai, adding that individuals with substantial means can often be flight risks.
He further noted that Mr. Boasiako had delayed responding to police invitations and only presented himself after the direct intervention of the Attorney General.
In addition, the prosecution expressed concern over the whereabouts of a second accused person, Kwame Antwi, a co-director at Akonta Mining, who remains at large. The court was told that Mr. Boasiako had declined to assist investigators with information on Antwi’s identity or location.
Presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, while granting bail, ordered the following conditions:
A GHC15 million bail bond
Three sureties, two with property justification
Surrender of all passports
Placement on an immigration stop list
Monthly reporting to investigators (first and third Mondays)
Sureties must submit Ghana Cards and digital addresses
Monthly compliance reports to be filed by investigators to the court
Next Steps
The court has given the prosecution three weeks to file full disclosures. The next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025.
The case comes amid heightened national scrutiny over illegal mining, which has drawn criticism for its environmental impact and links to political and corporate figures.
The proceedings involving Mr. Boasiako — a prominent figure in Ghanaian politics and media — are expected to serve as a high-profile test of the country’s commitment to combating galamsey and enforcing mining regulations.
