The Operations Manager of Akonta Mining, Kwadwo Owusu Bempah, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢10 million with three sureties, one of whom must be justified.
Owusu Bempah, the fifth accused in a high-profile illegal mining case, is being tried alongside Akonta Mining and three other defendants, including the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi.
The case centres on alleged illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, to charges of engaging in mining operations without a licence, as well as aiding the unlawful felling of trees and the construction of structures within the protected forest area.
According to the prosecution, although Chairman Wontumi holds valid mining concessions elsewhere, his application to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve was denied. Despite the rejection, he is alleged to have entered the reserve and carried out unauthorised activities.
Owusu Bempah had earlier been declared at large but, according to his lawyer, Andrew Vortia, he voluntarily reported to the police about three weeks ago. He was granted police enquiry bail but was re-arrested on Monday, January 12, for failing to comply with reporting conditions.
Meanwhile, another accused person and shareholder, Kwame Antwi, remains at large.
In a related development, the state in November 2025 applied to withdraw charges against the company’s General Manager, Edward Akuoko, with the intention of using him as a prosecution witness. The prosecution is expected to formally amend the charge sheet to reflect his removal as an accused person.
