Edward Akuoko, Bernard Antwi Boazsiako aka Wontumi
The Attorney General (AG), Dr. Dominic Ayine, has dropped all charges against Edward Akuoko, the General Manager of Akonta Mining, who was charged alongside Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for alleged illegal mining and related offences.
The AG now intends to use him as a key witness, as he seeks to secure the conviction of Wontumi, his company and others who are accused of unlawfully entering and undertaking mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve without legal authority.
Edward Akuoko had been charged with offences including undertaking mining operation without licence, abetting the unauthorised felling of trees in forest reserves, and abetting the unauthorised erecting of building in forest reserve.
“Take NOTICE that the Honourable Attorney-General has, pursuant to Section 59 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960, (Act 30), withdrawn EDWARD AKUOKO, the 4th Accused Person herein, from prosecution in respect of all the charges brought against him in this case,” a notice of withdrawal signed by the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai read.
This is not the first time the Attorney General has dropped charges against an accused person in order to use them against the others they were initially charged together with.
Last month, the Attorney General dropped all charges against Mildred Donkor, a banker who allegedly conspired with the erstwhile Director-General of National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, to launder “stolen” funds from the Bureau.
Illegal Mining
Wontumi, his company, Edward Akuoko as well as two others were accused of “extreme environmental destruction, including the devastation of approximately 13 hectares of land,” in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve with illegal mining activities.
The facts state that despite his company having licence to mine, its application to mine in the forest reserve was refused in August 2022. That notwithstanding, the company allegedly undertook the mining activities.
“To provide housing for the teeming number of persons working for it, A1 (Akonta Mining) put up several makeshift structures across the forest reserve,” the facts allege.
The court, presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, granted Wontumi and Edward Akuoko a bail of GH¢10 million each with three sureties each, one of whom must be justified with landed property. This was after they pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
They were ordered to deposit their travel documents with the registrar of the court and report to the investigator once every other week.
The case was adjourned to November 4, 2025, while the prosecution was ordered to file and serve disclosures before then.
Wontumi is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison and up to 25 years if found guilty on the charges levelled against him.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak