Samreboi: The State has called its first witness in the case involving Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others, standing trial for allegedly mining without authorisation on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
According to Ghana Web, the first prosecution witness, Michael Gyedu Ayisi, an artisanal miner, told the court that he worked as an administrator and supervisor on a concession, which he said was taken over by Chairman Wontumi. Ayisi stated he worked on the concession for about eight months prior to his arrest, noting that the area had both mined and unmined sections.
Recounting his arrest, Ayisi told the court that on April 17, 2025, at about 4:30 a.m., police and military officers knocked on his door and entered his room. Under cross-examination by Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Ayisi mentioned that his immediate boss, Henry Okun, took over the concession from Chairman Wontumi. However, Ayisi admitted he had never seen any documents evidencing the transfer of the concession and was only informed by Okun about the transfer.
Ayisi further explained that he and Okun worked on different sections of the concession and that he had not seen any documents relating to the ownership of the land. He acknowledged that he did not personally know Chairman Wontumi but recognized him as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from television appearances. Ayisi confessed that he was not privy to any deed of assignment between Chairman Wontumi and Okun.
When defence counsel suggested that Ayisi did not know who owned the concession, he responded, stating that everyone in Samreboi, even children, knew the land belonged to Chairman Wontumi. The witness also informed the court about ammunition seized at the site, which he claimed belonged to Henry Okun. He mentioned that while working on the land, gold was extracted, and at the time of their arrest, gold was found on them, although he could not specify how frequently gold was extracted from the site.
Chairman Wontumi and two others are before a High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, for allegedly allowing mining on a concession at Samreboi without authorisation from the then Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. He is on trial alongside his mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited, and one Kwame Antwi, a co-director who is currently at large. Chairman Wontumi has been charged with facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, while Kwame Antwi faces charges related to the assignment of mineral rights without approval. Chairman Wontumi has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is on a GHS15 million bail.