Accra: The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has denied allegations of authorizing prosecution witness Henry Okum (PW2) to engage in mining activities on Akonta Mining’s concession. Chairman Wontumi clarified that his arrangement with the witness was solely for land reclamation and coconut plantation purposes, not illegal mining.
According to Ghana Web, Chairman Wontumi made these statements while defending himself at the High Court in Accra. He stands trial with Akonta Mining on charges including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval. The trial proceeded with Wontumi’s defense after the prosecution concluded its case. During cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai, Wontumi acknowledged granting PW2 access to parts of the concession but insisted it was purely for land reclamation through coconut farming.
Wontumi firmly denied any involvement in assisting PW2 to acquire excavators or other equipment for mining operations. He stated that his agreement was limited to reclaiming land and planting coconut trees, with no permission granted for mining activities. Despite his denials, the prosecution argued that Wontumi was aware of PW2’s involvement in small-scale mining and had knowingly granted access for that purpose.
The prosecution further accused Wontumi of operating a business model that involved acquiring mining leases and permitting illegal mining activities in return for a share of the proceeds. Wontumi dismissed these allegations as falsehoods, maintaining that PW2 was introduced as a ‘service support miner’ rather than an illegal miner.
In the ongoing trial, the High Court has set a final deadline of May 28, 2026, for Wontumi’s legal team to present any additional witnesses. This directive follows a request by Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who sought more time to call further witnesses after his client’s testimony. The Deputy Attorney General opposed the request, pointing out the defense’s earlier assurance that witnesses would be available, which was not fulfilled.
Despite objections, the court granted a final extension for the defense to file witness statements by the deadline. Presiding Judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay warned that failure to meet the deadline would lead the court to conclude that the defense has no further witnesses to call. The court also indicated that it would proceed to order addresses, if any, before setting a date for its final ruling.