State Prosecutors Close Case in Wontumi Galamsey Trial

State prosecutors have closed their case against the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and two other co-accused persons, namely, Kwame Antwi (who is at large) and Akonta Mining Limited.

It comes after presenting four witnesses, including a galamsey headman, the headman’s employer, a police detective and a mining law and regulation expert.

The Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, reported that the first witness, one of the illegal mining headmen, was arrested together with other illegal miners in an Akonta Mining office on the concession.

“The headman testified that he, indeed, supervised several persons to conduct galamsey on the concession,” he said.

The second witness was the headman’s employer, who reportedly testified that he had an arrangement with Chairman Wontumi to conduct galamsey on the concession and to reclaim land.

“He also testified to how Chairman Wontumi used his political influence to get national security protection for their galamsey activities on the concession,” according to Srem Sai.

Meanwhile, the third witness, a police detective, tendered in evidence investigative statements, including one in which Chairman Wontumi admitted to giving a part of his Samreboi concession to the second witness, but for purposes of land reclamation only (and not for galamsey).

“He gave no money for the reclamation,” he reported in a Facebook post.

On the other hand, the fourth witness, a mining law and regulation expert, testified that allowing another person to carry out mining activities on a concession requires the minister’s approval.

“He told the Court that Akonta Mining did not have an approval to let another person mine or reclaim the concession.”

Meanwhile, lawyers of Chairman Wontumi told the Court that they want to make a submission of no case as they deem the evidence of the Republic has not been sufficient to require their client to open a defence.

“The lawyers have 14 days within which to make their submission of no case. Our Attorneys will oppose the submission of no case.”

Charges
Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing two counts of assignment of mineral rights without approval and two counts of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation at Samreboi in the Western Region.

Also in court with them is Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining Company Limited, who has also been charged with two counts of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.

The trial follows the politician’s decision to give his mining concession in Samreboi to some people to allegedly undertake galamsey without obtaining the required ministerial approval.

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