Chairman Wontumi is the Ashanti Regional NPP chairman
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has denied allegations that he authorised prosecution witness Henry Okum (PW2) to engage in mining activities on the concession of Akonta Mining.
According to Chairman Wontumi, the arrangement between himself and the witness was strictly for land reclamation and coconut plantation purposes and not illegal mining.
Chairman Wontumi made the remarks while testifying in his own defence at the High Court in Accra on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, who is standing trial alongside Akonta Mining on charges including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval, opened his defence after the prosecution closed its case.
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During cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai, Wontumi admitted granting PW2 access to portions of the concession but insisted the purpose was solely to reclaim degraded land through coconut farming.
“I didn’t give him permission to mine. He came to reclaim the land and plant coconut trees so that when the coconuts mature, we would share,” he told the court.
Wontumi further denied allegations that he assisted PW2 in acquiring excavators or other earth-moving equipment for mining operations.
“That is not true. I do not know the kind of work he carried out beyond reclamation and planting trees. I did not assist him in purchasing any earth-moving equipment,” he stated.
However, the prosecution maintained that Wontumi knowingly permitted mining activities on the concession and deliberately distanced himself from the site to avoid direct association with the alleged illegal operations.
Justice Srem-Sai argued that Wontumi was aware that PW2 was involved in small-scale mining and granted him access to the concession for that purpose.
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But Wontumi rejected the claim, explaining that PW2 introduced himself as a “service support miner” and not someone seeking to engage in illegal mining.
The prosecution further alleged that Wontumi’s business model involved acquiring mining leases and allowing individuals to carry out illegal mining activities in exchange for a share of the proceeds, commonly referred to in illegal mining circles as “goodwill” or “percentage.”
Chairman Wontumi, however, dismissed the allegation, describing it as a “blatant falsehood.”
Meanwhile, according to a report by JoyNews, the High Court has given Wontumi’s legal team a final deadline of Thursday, May 28, 2026, to produce any additional witnesses in the ongoing trial.
The directive followed a request by Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who asked the court for more time to call further witnesses after the testimony of his client.
Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai opposed the request, arguing that the defence had previously assured the court that the witnesses would be available this week but failed to produce them.
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He further contended that no witness statements had been filed to justify another adjournment, adding that the court rules permit the closure of a trial where witnesses are unavailable for cross-examination.
Despite the objection, the court granted the defence one final extension.
Listening to both arguments, the presiding judge, Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ordered the defence to file their witness's statements by May 28, 2026, warning that failure to do so would mean the court would assume the defence has no more witnesses to call.
The court additionally noted that it would proceed to order addresses, if any, before fixing a date for its final ruling.
JHM/AM
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