'We all want kingpins, not underlings' - Martin Kpebu on Wontumi's incarceration

Lawyer Martin Kpebu has stated that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, who has been jailed, is among the masterminds (kingpin) behind illegal mining activities in Ghana, commonly referred to as galamsey.

According to him, Wontumi has on previous occasions publicly displayed gold bars live on radio stations, making him pass as a kingpin in the illegal mining business.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Joy News on July 20, 2026, Kpebu explained that the two witnesses who testified against Wontumi should be regarded as subordinates rather than principal actors in the operations.

He emphasised that the outcome should be viewed in the context of the state’s objective of dismantling the leadership behind illegal mining.

FULL TEXT: Read the full court ruling that sentenced Wontumi to 20 years

“... because we’ve always been told that the president wanted to get the kingpins… So far, it appears Henry Okum and Michael Ayisi are underlings and Wontumi is a kingpin,” he said.

Kpebu maintained that using the two men as prosecution witnesses to secure a conviction against Wontumi was consistent with the broader goal of targeting those believed to be directing illegal mining activities.

He added, “Don’t forget, in the past, Wontumi has been to a radio station with gold bars, flaunting wealth, showing necklaces, etc. So Wontumi has posed as a kingpin.”

“And we all want kingpins, not underlings. So, Okum and Ayisi are underlings. That’s why they were used as prosecution witnesses to get their kingpin,” Kpebu concluded.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted on all six counts brought against him.

In a judgment delivered on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ruled against him on all charges.

The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition, the court fined Wontumi 10,000 penalty units for each count.

Akonta Mining Limited, which was also convicted on two counts, was fined 15,000 penalty units for each count.

The convictions were secured under provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 995), which increased penalties for illegal mining-related offences.

Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited, and a third accused person, Kwame Antwi, stood trial over alleged illegal mining activities on the company’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

The prosecution accused the three of unlawfully assigning mineral rights on the concession without the approval of the sector minister and facilitating mining activities without the required authorization, contrary to provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act.

AM/VPO

GhanaWeb launches maiden Real Estate Platform



Ghanaians welcome GhanaWeb’s digital solution for real estate challenges

GhanaWeb's Real Estate Platform will benefit property sector – Rev. Dr. Nanayaa Prempeh



Do your due diligence before investing in real estate – GhanaWeb CEO David Antwi