Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi
The Attorney General has begun its case in the trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, for allegedly entering and undertaking mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve without legal authority.
The prosecution yesterday called Edward Akuoko, the General Manager of Akonta Mining, who was initially charged alongside Wontumi for the alleged offences but has been turned into a prosecution witness.
However, the court could not take his testimony as the defence lawyers asked for more time to study additional documents filed by the prosecution.
The prosecution, led by Nana Ama Prempeh, a Senior State Attorney, said they had filed an additional exhibit which was omitted from the process.
The court, presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey, granted the request and adjourned the case to April 30, 2026, for Akuoko to give his evidence-in-chief.
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 buildings in forest reserve.
But the Attorney General filed a notice of withdrawal, removing him from the trial and instead using him as a prosecution witness.
Trial
Wontumi, his company Akonta Mining, 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 license 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.
Wontumi has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court granted him a bail of GH¢10 million with three sureties, one of whom must be justified with landed property.
He was ordered to deposit his travel documents with registrar of the court and report to the investigator once every other week.
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