The Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra has found Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, guilty in the illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay after months of legal proceedings involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited and a co-accused, Kwame Antwi.

Before delivering the verdict, the court dismissed an application by the defence seeking to postpone the judgment and refer constitutional issues arising from the case to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

The application was filed after lead defence counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, indicated he was out of the country and expected to return on July 22.

Appearing on his behalf, lawyer Charles Boakye informed the court that the defence had filed the application on July 16 and requested that the judgment be deferred until the Supreme Court determined the constitutional issues raised.

Justice Kocuvie-Tay, however, rejected the request, ruling that the application lacked merit and did not justify delaying the proceedings. The court subsequently proceeded to deliver its judgment.

The prosecution accused Akonta Mining Company Limited and its officials of engaging in unlawful mining activities on the Samreboi concession.

During his testimony before the court on May 21, 2026, Chairman Wontumi denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum to undertake mining on the concession.

He maintained that the agreement with Mr. Okum was solely for land reclamation and the establishment of coconut plantations, insisting that it did not include permission to conduct mining operations.

The case originated after Chairman Wontumi honoured an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service on October 6, 2025, following directives from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.