Controversial Ghanaian politician and businessman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi is alleged to have filed a lawsuit against the Government of Ghana, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minerals Commission over allegations linked to his company, Akonta Mining.
The lawsuit follows recent remarks by Lands Minister Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, who accused Akonta Mining of illegal operations in protected forest reserves in the Western Region.
Reports from a press briefing on April 29, 2025 has it that the minister alleged that although Akonta Mining holds a legitimate license to mine off-reserve areas, the company had “encroached on the Aboi Tano Namiri forest reserves.”
In that address, the minister claimed:
“This company has not only trespassed into protected reserves but has become a criminal syndicate, selling access to the Abou Forest reserves to illegal miners for a staggering 300,000 cedis per concession.”
He further alleged that Akonta Mining collected gold payments from these illegal miners on a weekly basis as a form of royalty.
In response, Akonta Mining has denied all allegations and filed a legal suit seeking multiple reliefs, including:
- Special damages for libel amounting to GH₵ 20 million
- A court order compelling the minister to retract and apologise
- A perpetual injunction against further defamatory statements
- Legal costs and any other relief the court may deem fit
The case, given the prominence of Chairman Wontumi in Ghanaian politics and the ongoing national discourse on illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey GH Educate believe this case is going to enjoy some considerable attention in Ghana’s political space for a while.
Neither the Lands Ministry nor the Minerals Commission has yet issued any official response to the suit as of the time of this report.
GH Educate is following keenly and will bring you up to speed with any future developments.
