In brief
A senior figure of the New Patriotic Party has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour and fined over €10,000 for illegal mining, triggering intense anger within the party. The judge accused him of assigning mineral rights without approval and of facilitating unlicensed mining through his company, Akonta Mining. NPP officials claim the case was politically motivated and that evidence was ignored, while environmental groups welcome the verdict as a deterrent against unlawful mining. The conviction marks the first high‑profile offence against illegal mining by a Ghanaian politician since the 2017 crackdown, underscoring tensions between state enforcement and political influence.
Shock and anger erupted in Ghana after the chairman of the Ashanti region for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) received a 20‑year prison sentence with hard labour for illegal mining offences.
The ruling party alleges that the landmark judgement against Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as "Chairman Wontumi", was politically motivated. He became the first senior politician to be convicted of illegal mining since a national crackdown began in 2017.
In addition to the long term, Boasiako was fined more than €10,000 (US$10,000). He had denied the charges, arriving visibly shocked when the judge handed down the sentence in Accra’s court on Monday.
The NPP politician was found guilty of "assigning mineral rights without approval" and "facilitating an unlicensed mining operation" through his company Akonta Mining. Ghana is Africa’s leading gold producer, yet illegal mining—locally called galamsey—continues to pollute rivers, forests and communities.
Governments have tried to clamp down on the activity, even deploying the military, with limited effect.
After the conviction, NPP general secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong warned that the fight against illegal mining cannot be credible if it targets political opponents without evidence. He alleged that the judge ignored "clear evidence" exonerating Boasiako.
Prosecutors claim the NPP politician allowed two individuals, Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to mine on the company’s concession without ministerial approval.
Environmental campaigners applauded the conviction, seeing it as a deterrent for politicians and businessmen who fund illegal miners. "It sends a strong signal that accountability is indispensable for protecting Ghana’s natural resources," said Adib Saani, executive director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building.
Nonetheless, Frimpong said lawyers were already challenging Boasiako’s conviction.
