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Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Case: Court set July 3 for judgement
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The trial involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has officially concluded, with the Accra High Court scheduling July 3, 2026, to deliver its final judgement.
The closure of the trial follows months of intense legal battles between state prosecutors and the political figure over alleged breaches of Ghana’s mining regulations.
The end to the final trial was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai.
In a public update shared via his official social media platforms, Dr. Srem-Sai revealed that the defence team successfully wrapped up its case.
“The accused persons in the case – The Republic v Bernard Antwi-Boasiako & 2 others – called their 5th and last witness today,” the Deputy Attorney-General revealed.
“The witness was discharged from the witness box a while ago. That brought the entire trial to an end. The judge has scheduled July 3 for judgement,” the Deputy Attorney-General stated.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, brings down the curtain on a trial that has heavily captured national attention.
Background of the Legal Battle
The case stems from state-led charges filed against Chairman Wontumi, Kwame Antwi (a director of Akonta Mining), and Akonta Mining Company Limited.
The state leveled six criminal counts against the accused persons, primarily centered on, unauthorized assignment of mineral rights, allegations that the defendants assigned mining concessions without the mandatory ministerial approval.
Also, facilitating unlicensed operations, an accusations of permitting unauthorized mining activities on their Samreboi concession.
The trial advanced to the defence stage earlier this year after the Accra High Court dismissed a “submission of no case” filed by Wontumi’s legal team.
In that ruling, the court maintained that the Attorney-General’s office had established a strong prima facie case, legally compelling the politician and his firm to open their defence.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Former Awutu Senya East Member of Parliament, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has been elected the National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
She secured 738 votes to defeat her main contender, Mohammed Safia, who polled 429 votes in the election held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The election formed part of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference, which brought together delegates from across the country to elect new national executives for the party.
The conference was characterised by a colourful display of the NPP’s red, white and blue colours, with party supporters and delegates filling the stadium ahead of the various elections.
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was among the prominent personalities who attended the delegates conference ahead of the elections.
Following the declaration of the results, Hawa Koomson moved around the stadium with some of her supporters, thanking delegates for voting for her and expressing confidence in her ability to lead the party’s women’s wing.
Speaking after her victory, Hawa Koomson said she would bring her experience and maturity to the position and work to strengthen the party’s women’s structures.
She indicated that she would work with her former contender, Mohammed Safia, despite the competition between them during the election.
“We are all NPP members and we are going to work together for victory,” she said.
According to her, her immediate task would be to unite the women of the party and mobilise them to contribute effectively to the NPP’s activities at the grassroots and national levels.
She called for greater support and solidarity among women, and recounted an experience in which she said another woman helped save her life after she was attacked.
Using the experience, Mrs Koomson urged women to have one another’s backs, stressing that women should be ready to support and defend each other.
The former MP spoke about her political journey and her return to a national leadership position after losing the Awutu Senya East parliamentary seat.
She said she had never regarded her political journey as a failure and was proud to have reached the national level to serve the party.
Mrs Koomson said her decision to contest the National Women’s Organiser position was driven by her desire to continue contributing to the NPP and use her experience to support the party.
Hawa Koomson explained the need for women to protect themselves, including the use of pepper spray as a means of self-defence when faced with danger.
She encouraged women to support and defend one another, drawing from her own experience of being attacked and helped by another woman who intervened to save her.
As National Women’s Organiser, she will be responsible for coordinating and mobilising women across the party, strengthening the women’s wing at the constituency and regional levels, and increasing their participation in party activities.
She is expected to work closely with the newly elected national executives to strengthen the party’s structures and prepare its women’s wing for the party’s future political activities.
Mrs Koomson thanked the delegates for the confidence they had placed in her and pledged to work with members of the party as she begins her new role.
By: Jacob Aggrey
John Boadu has been elected as the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the party’s National Delegates Conference held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Boadu secured a decisive victory with 2,888 votes, beating his closest contender Boakye Agyarko who polled 2,408 votes.
Former Chairman Paul Afoko garnered 790 votes, while Sammy Crabbe managed 41 votes.
The victory marks a major political comeback for John Boadu, who previously served as the party’s General Secretary.
Ahead of the elections, Sammy Crabbe had reportedly pulled out of the race to form an alliance with John Boadu, a move that appears to have strengthened Boadu’s numbers on the day.
The keenly contested chairmanship race was a highlight of the 2026 National Executives Election, which drew thousands of delegates from across the country to Kumasi.
Boadu is expected to lead the party’s reorganization efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
