Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), says Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has asked him to thank his former lawyer, Andy Appiah Kubi, for his support.
Speaking after Wontumi appeared before the High Court in Accra on July 27, 2026, over the ongoing GEXIM Bank case, Dr. Boakye-Danquah said Wontumi personally requested that his appreciation be passed on to Appiah Kubi.
According to him, Wontumi was grateful for the legal assistance Appiah Kubi gave him during his court cases before the lawyer stepped down from the case. Appiah Kubi later handed over Wontumi's legal representation to lawyer Atta Akyea and has also withdrawn from the ongoing GEXIM Bank trial.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah explained that he later spoke with Appiah Kubi and delivered Wontumi's message of thanks. He also noted that Appiah Kubi was in Koforidua handling another legal matter on the day of the hearing, while his secretary sent the case files to Atta Akyea in court.
Wontumi Jailed for Illegal Mining
Chairman Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after the High Court found him guilty on six charges linked to illegal mining activities.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay on Monday, July 20, 2026. The court ruled that all the prison terms would run at the same time.
In addition to the prison sentence, Wontumi was fined 10,000 penalty units for each of the six offences.
Akonta Mining Limited, which was also found guilty on two charges, was fined 15,000 penalty units on each count.
The convictions were based on the Minerals and Mining Act, which imposes tough penalties for illegal mining offences.
According to prosecutors, Wontumi, Akonta Mining Limited, and another accused person, Kwame Antwi, illegally transferred mineral rights and allowed mining activities to take place at a concession in Samreboi in the Western Region without the required approval from the sector minister.
GEXIM Bank Fraud Case Still Before the Court
Apart from the illegal mining case, Chairman Wontumi and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, a director of Wontumi Farms Limited, are facing a separate trial involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM).
The prosecution claims the two obtained GH¢14,302,000 from the bank by using false information.
Wontumi is also accused of using a forged document to secure an extra GH¢4,000,000 and of laundering part of the money. Prosecutors say the alleged actions caused the state to lose more than GH¢30 million.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretence, forgery, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution.
According to the prosecution, Wontumi applied for a GH¢19 million loan in January 2018 on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited to support a farming project.
Investigators allege that the loan application included a board resolution with incorrect dates. They claim the document referred to a board meeting that supposedly took place before the company was officially registered.
The application also stated that the company had secured 100,000 acres of land and planned to create jobs for about 6,000 families.
GEXIM later approved a loan and grant package worth GH¢18,734,260, and by March 2018, GH¢14,302,000 had been paid to Wontumi Farms Limited.
Prosecutors further allege that Wontumi later submitted what was presented as a receipt for GH¢4,000,000 worth of farming equipment, leading to the release of additional funds.
However, investigators say the document was not an actual receipt but a pro-forma invoice that had been altered by replacing the words "Pro-forma Invoice" with "Receipt."
The prosecution also claims that investigations found no evidence that the farming project was carried out. According to the state, no farming equipment was purchased, no workers were employed, and the land listed in the application had not been bought or leased.
Prosecutors further allege that large amounts of money were withdrawn from the company's accounts and used for personal investments and other businesses.
The GEXIM Bank case is still before the court, and Chairman Wontumi has denied all the allegations. He remains innocent under the law unless proven guilty by the court.