The High Court in Accra has ordered Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and his company Akonta Mining Limited to open their defense and answer to galamsey charges over the Samraboi concession.
This was after the Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, dismissed his submission of no case to answer, holding that prosecution witnesses had made a case against them to answer.
Chairman Wontumi, and Akonta Mining have each pleaded not guilty separately to the charge of Assignment of mineral rights without approval and Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
The second accused, Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining is currently in the run.
On February 4, 2026, State Attorneys led by Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, closed the case of the Prosecution against Chairman Wontumi and his two co-accused – Kwame Antwi (who is at large) and Akonta Mining Limited.
It is the case of the Prosecution that Chairman Wontumi, without obtaining authorization from the minister, gave his mining concession in Samreboi to people to use for illegal mining activities (galamsey), an accusation he has denied.
Ruling on submission of no case
The lawyers of Chairman Wontumi, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, filed submissions of no case to answer.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, his lawyers indicated to the Court that they had filed their arguments to support their request for submission of no case.
Ordering the accused to open their defense, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay said, having considered the charges, facts, and evidence led by the prosecution so far, the submission made by the defense and prosecution, a case had been made.
“From the evidence so far, there is a rebuttable presumption that the first (Chairman Wontumi) and third accused (Akonta Mining) have committed the offenses as charged,” the Court said.
She added that the prosecution had made a case against the accused persons and “I therefore call on A1 and A3 to open their defense.”
Justice Kocuvie-Tay also reminded the accused of their right to remain silent and not give evidence on oath or make a statement as per Article 19(10).
Next option
Counsel for the accused persons, Andy Appiah-Kubi, said, “We are minded to apply for a copy of the full ruling pursuant to which we will decide the next course of action, which may include an appeal against this decision.”
“We therefore pray for enough time to study the said ruling and take a decision that will be communicated on the next adjourned date.”
Nana Ama Prempeh, a Senior State Attorney who represented the Attorney General, said, “The decision of the court could have gone either way, and their counsel ought to have discussed with his client the options available to her before appearing in court today.”
She said, making the court aware of the option, “you choose is only going to give the court an opportunity to make further orders.”
According to her, “the ruling is inconsequential at this stage,” and “I therefore pray that you stand the case down for a few minutes to enable him to confer with his client.”
Next date
The presiding judge, having listened to the parties, adjourned the matter for “seven days as it is the law for the accused person to advise the court.”
The case has since been adjourned to March 26, 2026.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case, as filed on October 6, signed by the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, the ist Accused Person (Al), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias WONTUMI, a 49-year-old entrepreneur, is a native of Kuntanase in the Ashanti Region.
On paper, he is one of the two shareholders and one of the two directors of Akonta Mining Company Limited – the 3rd Accused Person (A3).
According to the Charge Sheet, Akonta Mining Company was incorporated on November 5, 2010, with “mining and exploration” as its object and principal business activities.
While Tarkwa is listed as its principal place of business, it operates mainly in the Samreboi area.
The Charge Sheet stated that the 2nd Accused Person (A2), Kwame Antwi, is at large and is listed as the other shareholder and director of Akonta Mining (A3).
Chairman Wontumi stated in both his police charge statement and investigative caution statement that he never saw or heard of Kwame Antwi since 2010 after they completed the company registration and other registration formalities.
Investigations have established that Chairman Wontumi (Al) alone has since exercised absolute control over Akonta Mining Company’s (A3) activities.
Further investigation is ongoing to establish the existence and, if so, the identity of Kwame Antwi (A2).
As part of the Republic’s fight against the galamsey (illegal mining) menace, the Ghana Police Service embarked on a special operation on April 16, 2025, in the Samreboi area.
At the end of the operation on April 17, 2025, the police arrested Michael Ayisi Gyedu, a 50-year-old native of Samreboi, and 28 others within Akonta Mining Company’s (A3) concession in Samreboi.
During the arrest, the police retrieved the following items: eight pump-action guns, one single-barreled gun, five pieces of metal suspected to be gold concealed in a sachet, four machetes, several water pumping machines, 310 AAA/BB cartridges, one grease gun, four motorcycles, two vehicles, cash amounting to One Hundred and Fifty-seven Thousand Ghana cedis only (GH$157,000.00), 25 serviceable excavators, and four non-serviceable excavators.
The Charge Sheet added that at the end of the trial, the Republic will pray the Court for a forfeiture order in respect of all items of value retrieved from the concession.
Galamsey activities
Per the charge sheet, upon his arrest, Michael Ayisi Gyedu named another, Henry Okum (a 44-year-old native of Krobo Odumase), as his employer who assigned him to supervise the mining activities on the concession.
Further, Michael Ayisi Gyedu stated that he and his fellow employees, as part of the mining activities on the concession, undertook land reclamation on parts of the concession that had been devastated while mining on the unmined portions of the land.
Henry Okum was subsequently arrested and cautioned. During interrogation, Henry Okum told police investigators under caution that sometime in September 2024, he approached and sought permission from Chairman Wontumi (Al) to undertake mining operations within the concession, which he believed belonged to Chairman Wontumi (Al) at Samreboi.
Investigations have established that Chairman
Wontumi (Al) did agree to this proposal and gave Henry Okum permission to carry out mining operations within the concession.
Further investigations have, however, established that Al allowed Henry Okum to carry out mining activities within A3’s concession without seeking or obtaining the legally mandated approval of the Minister.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
