Illegal Mining Case: High Court Orders Chairman Wontumi to Open His Defence

Illegal Mining Case: High Court Orders Chairman Wontumi to Open His Defence

The Accra High Court has instructed Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the NPP Ashanti regional chairman, to open his defence in an illegal mining case involving his concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. The court issued this order on Monday, March 16.

Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining, face charges for transferring or assigning mining rights without approval from the Lands Minister regarding their Samreboi concession, which was allegedly transferred to Henry Okum. Both the chairman and his company have pleaded not guilty and are currently out on bail.

During Monday’s court session, presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled on a submission of no case, stating, “From the evidence so far, there is a rebuttable presumption that the first and third accused have committed the offences as charged. The prosecution has made a case against the accused.”

The defence team had cross-examined the prosecution’s witnesses. Mr. Gyedu Ayisi, the first witness, admitted he had no documentary evidence linking Chairman Wontumi to any transfer or assignment of the concession. He also stated that he had never interacted directly with Wontumi or seen him at the mining site.

Henry Okum, a licensed small-scale miner and the second witness, claimed that he only had a verbal agreement with Chairman Wontumi to undertake land reclamation and mining activities at the Samreboi concession.

The third witness, Detective Chief Inspector Sarfo Asiedu Kwasi, testified about police investigations at the Samreboi site and parts of the Tano Nimiri Forest, where 29 suspects were arrested. During the operation, excavators, gold, firearms, ammunition, and cash were seized. However, the detective noted that Chairman Wontumi was not present at the site during the raid, and none of the arrested individuals was identified as an employee of Akonta Mining.

Joseph Iroko, the fourth witness and Senior Manager (Legal) at the Minerals Commission, provided evidence regarding the regulatory framework for mining concessions. He explained that under Ghanaian law, any assignment, transfer, or sublease of a mineral right requires prior written approval from the Minister of Mines after an application to the Minerals Commission.

In their submission of no case, Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers argued that the prosecution had failed to prove that he, through Akonta Mining, had assigned the mining rights to any entity to mine at Samreboi.

Story:Efua Nessa

Source: Locotvgh.com