Mireku Duker named as witness in Akonta Mining case

Former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has been named as a defense witness in the Akonta Mining case which resumes in the High Court on May 14, 2026.

This development follows the submission of witness statements by legal team of Chairman Wuntumi to begin his defense in an ongoing trial related to illegal mining activities on his Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

According to a report by adomonline.com on May 8, 2026, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, there are plans to call former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, as a defense witness when the case resumes in the High Court on May 14, 2026.

During a court appearance on May 7, 2026, counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi informed the court that “the defense has filed three witness statements in compliance with the court's directive for the accused persons to open their defense.”

The witness statements were reportedly filed by Chairman Wontumi himself, former lands minister George Mireku Duker, and Wisdom Edem Gomashie.

The defense team also indicated that “several documents have been submitted in support of the case, including the lease agreement of Akonta Mining Company Limited, correspondence to the Regional Security Council, and cautionary statements from the investigation.”

The court was informed that Gomashie will be the first defense witness to testify when proceedings resumes.

Charges regarding the Samreboi concession:

Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing six charges related to allegations that they allowed Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to conduct mining activities on the Akonta Mining concession without obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The prosecution claims that “the accused facilitated illegal mining activities on the concession.”

He has been charged with assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval and deliberately facilitating unlicensed mining operations, which is contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

Court-ordered defense to open case:

In March 2026, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and directed the accused to file witness statements if they intended to mount a defense.

The defense challenged this ruling with a no-case submission, but the trial court dismissed it.

Chairman Wontumi’s legal team then appealed to the Court of Appeal to contest the High Court’s order to open his defense.

They also sought a stay of proceedings pending the appeal; however, that application was dismissed, allowing the trial to continue.

NAD/VPO

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