The first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Wontumi and others, Edward Akuoko, has told the High Court in Accra that he volunteered to testify for the prosecution after realizing that the Wontumi (2nd accused person) was allegedly attempting to shift blame onto him.
Testifying under cross-examination on, the former General Manager of Akonta Mining said he walked to the Attorney General’s office on his own accord and was not influenced by anyone.
Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, Kwame Antwi and Owusu Bempah have been charged together for undertaking illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
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, 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).
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 Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
They have pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail.
Under cross-examination by lawyers of the accused persons led by Andy Appiah-Kubi on Monday May 18, 2026, he said “After we were granted bail, I realized that A2 (Chairman Wontumi) had apparently said to my family that whatever transpired at both Samreboi and Tano Nimire, he knew nothing about.
“I therefore came to the realization that A2 was trying to preserve himself to my detriment,” Akuoko told the court.
He said his decision was also influenced by advice from his lawyer, who he believed was acting solely in the interest of the 2nd accused person.
“I also had deep discussions with the lawyer and I came to the conclusion that all that the lawyer was seeking to do was in the interest of A2 and A2 only, and not me,” he said.
Akuoko explained that the potential sentence he faced informed his choice to cooperate with the prosecution.
“My lady, bearing in mind the probable sentence that I was to face, looking at the charges that I have been charged with, I decided not to risk my life,” he said.
“ I therefore took my personal decision without anyone’s influence and walked up to the AG’s department and offered myself as a prosecution witness,” he stated.
The witness said he was convinced that his testimony would align with existing evidence.
“I was convinced by my decision because I knew that there was a lot of evidence and records that corroborated what actually happened on the field,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the witness statement he gave to the Attorney General corroborates the prosecution’s evidence and predates his caution statement to the police.
“My lady, in conclusion, the witness statement that I offered to the AG at that point is corroborating the evidence available to the prosecution, and most importantly, these evidences predated my cautioned statement that I gave to the police,” Akuoko told the court.
He has since been discharged by the High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
Prosecution is expected to call their second witness, on Tuesday May 19, 2026.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
