Accra: Former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has been named as a defense witness in the ongoing Akonta Mining case. The trial is set to resume in the High Court on May 14, 2026. This announcement follows the submission of witness statements by the legal team representing Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, who is embroiled in a trial concerning illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
According to Ghana Web, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, plans to call George Mireku Duker as a defense witness when the case resumes. During a court appearance on May 7, 2026, defense counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi informed the court that three witness statements had been filed in compliance with the court's directive. These statements were submitted by Chairman Wontumi, former lands minister George Mireku Duker, and Wisdom Edem Gomashie.
The defense team has also submitted several documents to support their case, including the lease agreement of Akonta Mining Company Limited, correspondence to the Regional Security Council, and cautionary statements from the investigation. It has been indicated that Wisdom Edem Gomashie will be the first defense witness to testify when proceedings resume.
Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing six charges related to allegations that they permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to conduct unauthorized mining activities on the Akonta Mining concession. The prosecution alleges that the accused facilitated illegal mining activities without obtaining the necessary approval from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Specifically, Chairman Wontumi is charged with assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
In March 2026, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordered the accused to file witness statements if they intended to mount a defense. The defense initially challenged this ruling with a no-case submission, which was dismissed by the trial court. Subsequently, Chairman Wontumi's legal team appealed to the Court of Appeal to contest the High Court's order. They also sought a stay of proceedings pending the appeal, but this application was dismissed, allowing the trial to proceed.