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Former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has been discharged from the Wontumi trial after giving his testimony as the defence’s third witness.
Darko-Mensah, who also chaired the Western Regional Security Council, told the court that the Council received formal complaints from Akonta Mining about illegal miners on Wontumi’s Samreboi concession. He confirmed these complaints were documented and acted upon according to official procedures.
Under cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Darko-Mensah admitted he had no knowledge of any conversation between Wontumi and Henry Okum, the prosecution’s second witness, who claims he was commissioned to mine on the concession without formal mining rights.
> “I have no personal knowledge of what transpired between Wontumi and PW2,” Darko-Mensah told the court.
Wontumi faces charges of assigning mining rights without the Lands Minister’s approval and facilitating illegal mining on the Samreboi concession.
The defence is set to call its next witness on Wednesday, June 3.
Story by Efua Nessa