The Accra High Court has granted the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, a ₵15 million bail with three sureties.
According to the court, Wontumi’s sureties must be justified with landed properties.
The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, granted Wontumi bail on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, after hearing arguments from Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, and the Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai.
Andy Appiah-Kubi urged the court to grant bail, insisting that his client posed no flight risk; however, Dr Srem-Sai, who did not oppose, called on the court to impose stringent conditions given the gravity of the charges.
He argued, “Gold mining is a capital-intensive business, and by their own admission, the accused is a man of substance. It is common knowledge that persons of substance are often greater flight risks”.
Wontumi was granted a GHC 15 million bail bond, three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
He is also to deposit all passports with the court registrar; he has also been placed on the Ghana immigration stop list at all entry and exit points.
Also, Wontumi must report to investigators on the first and third Monday of every month.
The Accra High Court gave the prosecution three weeks to file disclosures.
Meanwhile, the next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025.
Additionally, Chairman Wontumi has been charged alongside two others in connection with galamsey activities allegedly carried out by his Akonta Mining Limited.
Wontumi has been charged alongside Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining Company Limited (Wontumi’s firm).
The second accused person, Kwame Antwi, is currently on the run.
According to court documents, Chairman Wontumi have been slapped with six counts, including “Assignment of mineral rights without approval, Assignment of mineral rights without approval, Corporate liability for unauthorised assignment, Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining, Purposely facilitating unlicensed mining, and Corporate facilitation of unlicensed mining”.
Wontumi and the two other charges stem from alleged unauthorised mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The charge sheet detailed that an operation by state security on April 26, 2025, led to the arrest of Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 on the Akonta Mining concession.
Mr Gyedu, during interrogation, fingered one Henry Okum as the one who gave him authorisation to supervise mining activities on the land.
According to the state, Henry Okum, during interrogation, admitted to seeking and receiving permission from Chairman Wontumi to mine within the Samreboi concession.
Investigators alleged that Wontumi granted permission without first obtaining the legally required approval from the Minister, as mandated by the laws.
See the post below:
Chairman Wontumi granted ₵15 million bail with three sureties…#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/jBC4NIv9HW
— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) October 7, 2025