The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that his office rejected several offers for a plea bargain in the ongoing case involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, Dr. Ayine explained that the Attorney-General’s Department has adopted a strict policy of allowing all plea deal applications to be made openly before the court, rather than through private negotiations with the prosecution.

Chairman Wontumi, together with Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining Limited, and the company itself, is currently facing two separate charges of illegal mining (galamsey) before the High Court in Accra.

Dr. Ayine reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption and illegal mining, emphasising that justice must be served transparently and without political interference.

“My office has not been influenced or pressured by any senior government official to reach settlements or drop charges.

We remain firm in our commitment to accountability and the protection of public resources,” he stated.

The Attorney-General further confirmed that multiple requests for plea bargains, including those related to the Wontumi case, were formally declined, underscoring his office’s determination to ensure the full course of justice.

The case against Akonta Mining and its executives has attracted national attention amid ongoing efforts to curb illegal mining activities and protect Ghana’s environment.

Dr. Ayine assured the public that all prosecutions, regardless of the political status of the accused, would be pursued with fairness, integrity, and transparency in accordance with the law.