Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi
Former Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has “categorically and unequivocally” rejected the assertion that the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) and his company, Akonta Mining Company Limited were engaged in or facilitating illegal mining on the company’s concession at Samreboi.
According to him, this allegation which forms the basis of the charges leveled against the two “is directly contradicted by the official records of the Western Regional Security Council,” including formal complaints the company made about the presence of illegal miners on its concession “and the company’s urgent requests for security assistance to flush out the illegal miners.”
Wontumi is on trial for allegedly facilitating others to mine on his Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The prosecution’s main case borders around allegations that Wontumi permitted others, particularly Henry Okum who was arrested on the land and later converted into a prosecution witness, to mine on the land without the Minister for Land and Natural Resource’s approval.
Mr. Darko-Mensah who is the Member of Parliament for Takoradi, testifying before a High Court in Accra on Thursday, May 28, 2026, stated that the conduct of Akonta Mining Company Limited in formally reporting illegal mining activities to the REGSEC is wholly inconsistent with the conduct of a company engaged in or facilitating illegal mining.
“A company that was itself engaged in illegal mining would not invite the attention of the security authorities to its concession. The formal complaints to the REGSEC demonstrate that Akonta Mining Company Limited was acting in good faith, in compliance with the law, and in active cooperation with the security agencies,” the MP said in his evidence-in-chief.
He further testified that he was aware that the prosecution’s case rests, in part, on the assertion that the Wontumi verbally permitted Henry Okum to enter the Akonta Mining concession for purposes of land reclamation.
According to him, even if this is accepted, it does not constitute illegal mining by the accused persons, as land reclamation is a lawful activity, and a mineral right holder is entitled to engage third parties to carry out reclamation activities on its concession.
“If Henry Okum or his employees exceeded the scope of the permission granted to them and conducted mining activities without authorisation, the criminal responsibility lies with Henry Okum and his employees, not with Akonta Mining Company Limited or the 1st Accused Person (Wontumi),” the MP testified.
Mr. Darko-Mensah further indicated that the prosecution’s attempt to characterise Akonta Mining Company Limited and Wontumi as illegal miners is, in his considered view, a fundamental mischaracterisation of the facts.
“Akonta Mining Company Limited is a licensed mineral right holder that has complied with its statutory obligations, reported illegal mining activities on its concession to the appropriate authorities, and cooperated with the security agencies,” he said.
Mr. Darko-Mensah also testified that the formal complaints made by Akonta Mining Company Limited to the Western Regional Security Council demonstrates, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Akonta Mining Company Limited and its directors were not engaged in or facilitating illegal mining on the concession, but were rather the victims of illegal mining by unauthorised third parties.
“It is axiomatic that a company engaged in or facilitating illegal mining would not formally complain to the security authorities about illegal mining activities on its concession,” he said.
The MP pointed that such a complaint would inevitably invite the attention of the security agencies to the very activities that the company was allegedly facilitating, and would expose the company and its directors to the risk of criminal prosecution. “No rational actor engaged in criminal activity would take such a step.”
The MP added that Akonta Mining’s decision to report illegal mining activities on its concession is entirely consistent with the conduct of a law-abiding mineral right holder that is committed to the protection of its concession, “the enforcement of the law, and the eradication of illegal mining.”
“It is the conduct of a company that has nothing to hide and that is actively cooperating with the security agencies.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak