Court Orders Wontumi to Open Defence in Illegal Mining Trial

An Accra High Court has dismissed a no-case submission filed by Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, ordering him to open his defence in an ongoing illegal mining case.

The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Audrey Kokuvie Tay, held that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against Mr. Boasiako, his company Akonta Mining, and Mr. Kwame Antwi, who is currently at large. The judge said the evidence presented required the accused persons to offer explanations.

Mr. Boasiako, who serves as the New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman, is standing trial for allegedly undertaking mining operations without proper authorisation on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. Prosecutors say he also permitted two individuals to carry out mining activities on the concession without approval and facilitated their operations.

Lawyers for Mr. Boasiako argued in their submission that the State had "woefully failed" to prove the essential ingredients of the charges after calling four witnesses who were cross-examined.

However, the State, led by Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice Justice Srem-Sai, urged the court to reject the application. The prosecution insisted that credible and admissible evidence had been presented on every element of the offences.

According to the State, Mr. Boasiako admitted in both his investigation caution and charge statements that he granted access to the concession to the second prosecution witness. Prosecutors argued further that he did more than overlook statutory breaches he “financially aligned himself with the unlawful operations, granted operational access, and provided logistical support without the required approvals.”

Justice Tay agreed with the prosecution, ruling that there was sufficient evidence for the accused persons to mount a defence.

The case has generated significant national interest due to Mr. Boasiako’s high-profile role within the ruling party and ongoing public concern over illegal mining activities, widely referred to as galamsey.

With the dismissal of the no-case submission, the trial now moves to the defence stage, where Chairman Wontumi and the other accused persons will be expected to present their account of the alleged activities at Samreboi.


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