Order By Court: Wontumi Can’t Leave Ghana

Owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been asked by Court to submit and his passport with the Registrar. He has also been placed on a stop list at all of Ghana’s entry and exit points until further notice.

 The order forms parts of the conditions under which Chairman Wontumi was granted bail when he appeared before the High Court, yesterday Tuesday October 7, 2025 to face several charges all in relation to illegal mining.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In addition to the submission of passport and being placed in a stop list, Chairman Wontumi was granted a bail amount of GH¢15 million with three sureties.

Two of the sureties are to provide justification with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.  Chairman Wontumi is also ordered by Court to report himself to the Police every first and third Monday of every month.

 Just after the case was adjourned and Wontumi’s lawyers thought they were free to commence processes to meet the bail conditions and get their client home, he was re-arrested and sent to another court over similar charges of illegal mining activities.

 At the second court, Chairman Wontumi was again granted bail at the sum of GH¢10 million with two sureties, one to be justified with landed property.

Enoch Afoakwa, a member of Chairman Wontumi’s legal team told Citi Eyewitness News in the evening that they were still attempting to meet the bail conditions therefore their client, Wontumi was still in police custody.

“We intend to go back to the court on [Wednesday] attend to the registrar of the court, and ensure that the needed administrative processes are duly followed to ensure the liberty of our client, who is in custody now awaiting the execution of the bail bond,” Enoch Afoakwa explained.

Investigators say Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, who has also been charged with two counts of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, is currently on the run.

Charges Summary

1. Akonta Mining Company Limited (1st Accused)
   Represented in court by Chairman Wontumi, the company pleaded not guilty to all counts.

• Count 1: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have operated in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in 2022 without authorisation from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
• Count 4: Felling trees in a forest reserve without authority — accused of illegally felling over 300 merchantable trees and numerous saplings without written permission from the Forestry Commission.
• Count 6: Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without authorisation — alleged to have constructed makeshift structures and checkpoints within the forest without official approval.

2. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (2nd Accused)
   Pleaded not guilty to all counts.

• Count 2: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence — charged as co-owner/director of Akonta Mining for allegedly engaging in unlicensed mining in 2022.
• Count 5: Abetting the unauthorised felling of trees — allegedly facilitated the felling of protected trees in the forest reserve.
• Count 7: Abetting the unauthorised erection of buildings — accused of aiding the construction of unauthorised structures in the forest.

3. Kwame Antwi (3rd Accused – At Large)
   Co-director of Akonta Mining.

• Counts 2, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Wontumi for undertaking mining without a licence, abetting unauthorised felling of trees, and abetting the erection of unauthorised buildings.
  Investigators say efforts are ongoing to trace his whereabouts, as he has yet to participate in company operations.

4. Edward Akuoko (4th Accused)
   General Manager, Akonta Mining.

• Count 3: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have overseen illegal mining activities on behalf of the company.
• Counts 5 and 7: Jointly charged for abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and the erection of buildings.

5. Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (5th Accused – At Large)
   Operations Manager, Akonta Mining.

• Counts 3, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Akuoko for undertaking unlicensed mining, abetting the felling of trees, and aiding the construction of unauthorised structures.