'Judge was lenient, he deserved 25 years' - Rashid Tanko on Wontumi's sentence

The Deputy Director of IT and Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, has stated that Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay of the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court was lenient in sentencing the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

According to him, Chairman Wontumi should have received the maximum jail term of 25 years instead of the 20 years handed down by the court.

“In fact, I was expecting about 25 years. He should have taken the 25 [years in jail]. The judge was lenient to have given him the 20 years,” he said.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others who think they can get away with this just because of their own parochial interest,” he said.

Speaking on a panel discussion on Joy News on July 20, 2026, Rashid Tanko added that jailing Wontumi represents justice for communities that have suffered the devastating effects of illegal mining.

“Justice has been served to the good people whose environment has been destroyed, and to those children who are now suffering from birth defects. Kidneys have been destroyed because of the activities of Akonta Mining and its affiliates,” he said.

Azar breaks down Wontumi's convictions and 20-year jail sentence

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 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

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