The Operations Manager of Akonta Mining, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah, has been granted GH¢10 million bail with three sureties, one to be justified, by the court in the ongoing high-profile illegal mining case linked to activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

Owusu Bempah, who is the fifth accused person, is standing trial alongside Akonta Mining and three others, including the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, to charges including undertaking mining operations without a licence and abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and erection of structures within the protected forest reserve.

Prosecution’s case


According to the prosecution, although Chairman Wontumi holds valid mining concessions in other parts of the country, his application to mine within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve was rejected. Despite this, he is alleged to have entered the reserve and carried out mining and related activities without authorisation.

Owusu Bempah had earlier been declared at large, but his lawyer, Andrew Vortia, told the court that his client voluntarily presented himself to the police about three weeks ago. He was granted police enquiry bail, but was re-arrested on Monday, January 12, after allegedly failing to report as required.

Other developments


One of the accused persons, Kwame Antwi, a shareholder in Akonta Mining, remains on the run.

Meanwhile, the state has already taken steps to withdraw charges against the company’s General Manager, Edward Akuoko, after deciding to use him as a prosecution witness. The prosecution is expected to amend the charge sheet to formally remove his name as an accused person.

The case continues as the court prepares to hear further proceedings in what has become one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining trials.