Accra: An Accra High Court has admitted in evidence a defence witness statement filed by Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, former Western Regional Minister, in the Wontumi Samreboi Illegal Mining case. The court also admitted in evidence a pen drive attached to his witness statement.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Mensah is the third defence witness for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Wontumi, who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party. The defence team, led by Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, presented the former Minister in evidence, during which his witness statements and the attached pen drive were tendered in court.
The prosecution, led by Nana Ama Prempeh, Senior State Attorney, informed the court that the witness statement was served to her about an hour prior. She noted that she had only just seen the defence witness statement and expressed concern over the pen drive played in court, highlighting that it lacked a date and did not specify where the video was captured. As a result, she objected to the tendering and admission of the defence witness pen drive as evidence.
However, the trial judge overruled the prosecution's objection, allowing the prosecution the opportunity to cross-examine the defence witness regarding the pen drive. The case has been adjourned to Monday, June 1, 2026, for the cross-examination of the former Minister by the prosecution.
Boasiako, along with one Kwame Antwi, a director who is currently at large, and Akonta Mining Company Limited, have been arraigned for allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities at Samreboi and transferring mineral rights without Ministerial approval at the Samreboi concession. Boasiako is specifically accused of transferring his mining rights to one Henry Okum without the necessary approval from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. He has denied the charges and is currently on bail.