Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi
A High Court in Accra has set July 3, 2026 to deliver its judgment in the trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), who is accused of facilitating others to mine on his Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi without ministerial approval.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, has given the prosecution and the defence lawyers up to June 17 to file written addresses if they wish to do so.
Charges
Chairman Wontumi has been charged with one count of assignment of mineral rights without approval, and another count of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
His company, Akonta Mining and another person identified as Kwame Antwi, who is on the run, have been charged with the same offences. They have both denied the charges.
Prosecution’s Case
Prosecution’s first witness, Michael Gyedu Ayisi, an artisanal miner, told the court that he worked under Henry Okum on the Samreboi concession and that he got to know that the concession belonged to Wontumi based on information provided by Okum.
While under cross-examination by Andy Appiah-Kubi, he indicated that he had never interacted with Chairman Wontumi on a personal level and had no documentary evidence showing Wontumi had assigned or transferred the concession to anyone.
The second witness, Henry Okum, a small-scale miner, testified that he entered into a verbal arrangement with Chairman Wontumi to undertake land reclamation and mining activities on the Samreboi concession.
However, he confirmed under cross-examination that there was no written agreement, deed of assignment, or ministerial approval validating the alleged arrangement between him and Chairman Wontumi.
Joseph Iroko, a Senior Manager (Legal) at the Minerals Commission, on his part, said a search of the Commission’s records revealed no application, approval, or documentation indicating that Akonta Mining Company Limited had assigned or transferred its concession at Samreboi to Henry Okum, adding that in the absence of ministerial approval, no assignment could be considered formally recognised.
The case investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Sarfo Asiedu Kwasi, testified about police investigations into mining operations at Samreboi and parts of the Tano Nimiri Forest.
He said police arrested 29 suspects and seized excavators, gold, firearms, ammunition, and cash.
During cross-examination, he told the court that Chairman Wontumi was not present at the site during the police operation, and that none of the arrested persons was identified as an employee of Akonta Mining Limited.
Chairman Wontumi’s Defence
Chairman Wontumi’s first witness, Wisdom Edem Gomashie, told the court that the verbal permission granted to Henry Okum, for the purpose of undertaking land reclamation does not constitute assigning mineral rights by Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited.
According to him, he had reviewed the charges levelled against Wontumi and his company, and from his professional background on the back of Act 703 and in line with the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations (L.I. 2176), it explains what it means to assign mineral rights.
Asked under cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai if he had any idea whether Henry Okum had mined on the land, the witness said he had no idea.
The second witness, George Mireku-Duker, former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Mining, told the court that Akonta Mining Limited’s concession was invaded by illegal miners and a report of same was forwarded to the ministry during his tenure.
According to him, in response to the said encroachment which was prevalent in the Western Region, he led a team of security officers to the said concession to arrest the ‘recalcitrant’ illegal miners who had encroached on the land.
Chairman Wontumi then mounted the witness box and denied ever permitting any person to undertake mining on his Samreboi concession.
He told the court that the company had acquired a lease but since there was no parliamentary ratification, the company did not undertake any mining operations on the concession.
He also told the court that neither him nor Akonta Mining Limited gave Henry Okum permission to mine on the land.
Former Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, also “categorically and unequivocally” rejected the assertion that Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited were engaged in or facilitating illegal mining on the company’s concession at Samreboi.
Under cross-examination, Mr. Darko-Mensah said he has no information on what transpired between Chairman Wontumi and Henry Okum.
Chairman Wontumi’s last witness, Evans Addae, basically testified that as at today, illegal miners were still on the Samreboi concession.
He also indicated that Wontumi never went to the concession, and tendered in evidence a video capturing illegal mining activities on the concession.
Under cross-examination, Addae said he does not know anything about Chairman Wontumi instructing someone to work on his concession.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak