The Attorney General has formally filed processes challenging an application by convicted illegal mining figure Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking release on bail while he pursues an appeal against his conviction and sentence.
The State has urged the court to reject the application, arguing that the intended appeal does not have a reasonable prospect of succeeding and therefore does not constitute adequate justification for granting the former New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman temporary freedom while the appellate process continues.
In its opposition, the Attorney General maintained that there are no exceptional or special circumstances that would warrant admitting Mr Boasiako to bail pending the determination of his appeal.
The application for bail follows Mr Boasiako’s conviction by the Accra High Court in connection with illegal mining activities allegedly carried out at the Samreboi concession in Ghana’s Western Region.
On July 20, 2026, Justice Audrey Kocuvie Tay sentenced Mr Boasiako to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour after finding him guilty of offences connected to the unlawful assignment of mineral rights without the requisite authorisation and facilitating mining operations without the necessary licence.
The court also imposed a financial penalty on Akonta Mining Company Limited, a company in which Mr Boasiako is a shareholder and director.
In addition to the custodial sentence and financial sanction, the court ordered the confiscation of mining equipment, firearms and cash that had been seized during investigations into the activities forming the basis of the prosecution.
Mr Boasiako has since challenged both his conviction and sentence before the appellate court and is seeking bail while the appeal is being considered.
His legal representatives contend that there are substantive grounds upon which the appellate court could review and potentially overturn the High Court’s decision. The defence is therefore asking the court to allow Mr Boasiako to remain out of custody until the appeal has been conclusively determined.
The Attorney General, however, has rejected that position and maintained that the proposed appeal does not demonstrate a reasonable likelihood of success.
The State’s position is that the circumstances presented by Mr Boasiako do not meet the threshold required to justify his release pending appeal and that the conviction and sentence should therefore remain operative while the appellate process proceeds.
The latest filing by the Attorney General will now form part of the material the court must consider in determining whether Mr Boasiako should continue serving his sentence at Nsawam Prison while awaiting the outcome of his appeal or whether the circumstances justify his temporary release.
The case originates from investigations into alleged illegal mining operations at the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The investigations subsequently resulted in criminal charges against Mr Boasiako, Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person.
The prosecution centred on allegations concerning the acquisition and assignment of mineral rights and the facilitation of mining operations without the legally required approvals and licences.
Mr Boasiako has denied wrongdoing and is exercising his legal right to challenge the judgment through the appellate process.
The pending bail application therefore places the State’s objections directly against the defence’s claim that the conviction warrants appellate scrutiny, leaving the court to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for the convicted businessman to remain outside custody while his appeal is heard.
The outcome of the application will determine whether Mr Boasiako remains incarcerated during the appeal process or is granted temporary liberty subject to conditions imposed by the court.
