Wontumi pleads not guilty to all 7 charges in fresh Tano Nimire Forest Reserve mining case

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges levelled against him and four others over alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve at Samreboi in the Western Region.

This comes just hours after he appeared in a separate case earlier today, where he was placed on a stop list and granted GH₵15 million bail after pleading not guilty to six mining-related charges.

Wontumi appeared before the Accra High Court on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, alongside representatives of Akonta Mining Company Limited and other associates accused of engaging in unauthorised mining operations and environmental destruction within a protected forest reserve.

He is accused of, among other things, destroying 13 hectares of land in the Tano Nimiri forest.

The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General, cover offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, Forest Protection Act, and Criminal Offences Act. The accused persons are alleged to have conducted illegal mining, felled trees, and erected structures in the forest reserve without the required permits.

Count One: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence
Akonta Mining Company Limited is accused of operating a mining concession at Samreboi in 2022 without a valid licence from the Minister, contrary to Section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by Act 995.

Count Two: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence
Chairman Wontumi and one Kwame Antwi (currently at large) allegedly conducted mining operations as owners and directors of Akonta Mining Company Limited within the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without authorisation.

Count Three: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence
The company’s General Manager, Edward Akuoku, and Operations Manager, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (alias Sly, at large), are also accused of operating unlawfully within the reserve.

Count Four: Felling trees in a forest reserve without written authority
Akonta Mining Company Limited is said to have felled more than 300 merchantable trees and several saplings in the forest reserve, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243), as amended by Act 624.

Count Five: Abetment of unauthorised felling of trees
Wontumi and three others are alleged to have aided the unlawful felling of trees in breach of the Forest Protection Act and Section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Count Six: Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without written authority
Akonta Mining Company Limited is further accused of constructing buildings and other structures within the reserve without prior approval, contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of NRCD 243, as amended.

Count Seven: Abetment of unauthorised erection of buildings in a forest reserve
Wontumi and his co-accused allegedly facilitated the construction of structures within the forest reserve without written authorisation from the competent forestry authority.

Chairman Wontumi, who was earlier granted GH¢1 million bail with two sureties, met his bail conditions and was released pending trial.

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