Jubilation Erupts in Samereboi as Chairman Wontumi Receives 20‑Year Jail Term for Galamsey Offences
The streets of Samereboi erupted into wild celebration on June 20, 2026, as news broke that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
An Accra High Court handed down the sentence after finding him guilty of engaging in illegal mining activities — the notorious practice widely known as galamsey.
For residents of Samereboi, the verdict is more than a legal milestone; it is viewed as long‑awaited divine and judicial justice.
The town has endured years of environmental destruction, which locals directly attribute to the operations of Akonta Mining Company, a firm linked to the embattled politician.
A Legacy of Destruction
The atmosphere in Samereboi was electric, with jubilant crowds pouring onto the streets to celebrate what many described as the end of an era of environmental impunity.
For years, the community has campaigned against the pollution of water bodies and the widespread destruction of forests.
“When Wontumi was damaging our lands, he acted with unprecedented authority. He treated the people with absolute contempt and refused to listen to our pleas or follow mining regulations,” one resident said during the celebrations.
Residents pointed to the catastrophic flooding that recently devastated Samereboi as a direct consequence of Akonta Mining’s activities. They argue that mining waste and illegal excavations blocked major water channels, leaving the town vulnerable to the surges that destroyed homes, farms, and livelihoods.
‘Who Will Console Wontumi?’
Among those celebrating were victims of the recent floods who lost everything.
Kwame Baffour, whose home was submerged, expressed zero sympathy for the politician’s fate.
“Some of us lost our properties, our homes, our life savings. Now that God is punishing this man, who should console him? He didn’t console us when we were sleeping in the open,” Baffour said.
He praised the court’s decision:
“We thank the judge and the government for finally applying the laws of the land to teach Wontumi a bitter lesson. It is a win for the environment and a win for us.”
A Call for Uniform Justice
Despite the celebratory mood, residents issued a stern message to the government: Wontumi’s conviction must not be an isolated case.
They insist that numerous other galamsey operators continue to act with reckless disregard for the law, driven by greed at the expense of national development.
“The government must extend its cane to every single person involved in this destruction,” another resident remarked.
“The law must be blind to status, political affiliation, or wealth. If we are to save our water bodies and our future, every offender must face the same fate as Chairman Wontumi.”
A Symbol of Hope
As the community processes the news, Wontumi’s conviction has become a symbol of hope for many across the country who have long felt powerless against the environmental devastation caused by illegal mining.
For now, the people of Samereboi are marking the moment with cheers, relief, and a renewed call for the protection of their lands.