By: Barbara Kumah
The Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra, has ordered, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Wontumi, to open his defence in the trial in which he is accused of permitting two persons to mine on his concession without ministerial approval.
The trial judge, gave the order after ruling that, prosecution, has proven sufficient rebuttal evidence against Wontumi and his company.
Mr. Antwi Boasiko and Akonta Mining Company Ltd, are currently facing a total of six counts of permitting one Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without obtaining prior approval from the sector minister, as well as facilitating unlicensed mining.
The New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiko, also known as Wontumi and his company Akonta Mining Ghana Limited, were on Monday March 16, 2026, ordered to open their defense in the trial, after their judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, held that per the requirement of section 7(4) of the Criminal Offenses Act 1960, (Act 30), the State through the prosecution, has led enough evidence after the close of its case against the accused persons and therefore has a case to answer.
The court, however, reminded Wontumi and Akonta mining of their rights under the law to either remain silent, or testify and also to call witnesses, and asked for their consideration.
Andy Appiah Kubi, lawyer for Wontumi and Akonta mining, however, told the court, they intend to apply for the full ruling of the court, for a review and decide on the options available to them, including appealing the ruling of the court.
Prosecution was opposed to the request by Wontumi’s lawyer, and suggested to the court to stand the case down for some few minutes, while the defense lawyer confer with his client on his choice of action, to enable the court, decide on the way forward for subsequent hearings.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, after listening to the parties, adjourned the case to, March 24, by which time, Wontumi, is expected to decide on the options available to him.
During the trial, prosecution called four witnesses to testify in the case. And at the end of its case, Wontumi and his company, through their lawyers prayed the High Court to acquit and discharge them in a submission of no case application.
Andy Appiah Kubi, led lawyer for the accused persons, argued that the Attorney-General had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to warrant the accused and his company being called upon to open their defence, noting that the prosecution’s case suffered fundamental and fatal deficiencies, both in terms of the absence of evidence on essential elements and in terms of the quality and reliability of the evidence adduced.
This argument was opposed by the prosecution, led by Deputy A-G, who argued that prosecution had led credible, admissible and legally sufficient evidence touching every essential element of the offenses charged through, Documentary evidence, which established the mineral right and the absence of statutory approval as well as witness testimony indicating active mining, machinery deployment and extraction of gold, which goes to show that Bernard Antwi Boasiko, aka Wotumi, had a case to answer and must therefore be invited by the court to open his defense.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com
