The Prosecution and defence lawyers in the case involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have agreed to have the first prosecution witness Edward Ekuoko recalled for further cross-examination.
The Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai on Thursday when the case was called before Justice Ruby Aryeetey at the High Court in Accra said the parties have made concessions to allow the witness to testify for two hours.
Edward Ekuoko, the First Prosecution Witness, who is the former General Manager of Akonta Mining, had already testified and been cross-examined.
The defence had subsequently filed a motion seeking leave to recall him for further cross-examination.
When the matter came up for hearing, Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, told the court that although the prosecution had filed an affidavit in opposition to the application on November 10, 2026, the parties had since held discussions and reached a compromise.
He said counsel for the accused persons had agreed to use just about two hours to further cross-examine the witness, while the prosecution had decided to withdraw its affidavit in opposition to pave the way for the recall.
He therefore prayed the court to adopt the proposal agreed upon by both sides.
Counsel for the accused persons, Samuel Atta Akyea, endorsed the position of the prosecution, telling the court that the defence would respect the two-hour time limit.
He clarified that the defence was not attempting to reopen its case, and prayed the court to grant the request.
In her ruling, Justice Ruby Aryeetey granted leave for PW1 to be recalled and further cross-examined.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial in connection with matters arising from the operations of Akonta Mining.
The first prosecution witness, the former General Manager of the company, had earlier given evidence for the prosecution and was cross-examined by the defence.
The defence later applied to have him recalled to answer further questions, a move the prosecution initially opposed before the parties reached an agreement in court.
Akonta Mining Company Limited (A1), Chairman Wontumi (A2), Kwame Antwi (A3), and Kwadwo Owusu Bempah A5 (at large) have been charged variously for their roles in the illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve.
They have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges of the seven counts, including one three of Undertaking a mining operation without a licence.
Akonta Mining, as a company, is also facing charges of felling trees in a Forest Reserve without written authority from the competent forest authority and erecting buildings in a Forest Reserve without written authority from the competent forest authority.
Chairman Wontumi is personally facing two separate counts of abetting the unauthorised felling of trees in a Forest Reserve, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243), as amended by Section 1 of the Forest Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 624), and Section 20(1) of the Criminal Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Source: www.kumasimail.com
