'Akonta Mining acted as whistleblower against galamsey' - Ex-minister-turned-witness tells court

The former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who is the fourth defence witness has told the Accra High Court that Akonta Mining Limited reported illegal mining activities on its concession to state authorities, describing the company’s actions as those of a whistleblower.

Darko-Mensah gave the testimony during proceedings in a case involving Akonta Mining Limited and its owner, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Attorney-General charges Chairman Wontumi, others over alleged GH¢30 million financial loss

In a video interview after the hearing shared by Daily Graphic on June 1, 2026, lawyer Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the legal representative of Wontumi said the former minister testified that complaints from Akonta Mining and his client led to action by the Western Regional Security Council.

“What he did was to give evidence to the effect that in his capacity as Western Regional Minister, he received complaints from Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining in respect of illegal mining on its concession and for which reason, the Western Regional Security Council engaged security agents to flush out these illegal miners and, in some cases, even effect arrest of illegal miners,” Appiah-Kubi said.

According to him, the witness also presented documents to support claims that land reclamation formed part of a government-backed policy aimed at restoring areas degraded by illegal mining.

“Indeed, he also introduced documents to suggest that it was the policy of the government to encourage reclamation of degraded lands resulting from illegal mining and that they even tended documents of World Bank support he gave to Government of Ghana to facilitate the reclamation of degraded lands as a result of illegal mining,” he stated.

Appiah-Kubi explained that the testimony sought to establish that any unlawful acts committed during reclamation exercises could only be attributed to the public officials responsible and not transferred to other persons.

“But the government had a policy to reclaim degraded land which Chairman Wontumi would have done on his land. And in any case, he was not the person who did that. Illegal miners have caused degradation and he and his company had also resorted to reclamation of those degraded lands,” he explained.

The lawyer argued that individuals and companies that help restore degraded lands should be encouraged rather than criticised.

“So, for nothing at all, I think we must applaud people who come into this area and help us recover our lands as a country. So, the policy of the government supported by World Bank was to encourage all Ghanaians and in fact local communities when they take reclamation of degraded lands,” he added.

Appiah-Kubi disclosed that the defence is expected to call its final witness on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

'Years of political battles make me prepared to lead NPP' - Chairman Wontumi

“Our last witness comes in on Wednesday and he's a local person who will be coming to give us information as to the performance of Akonta Mining and Chairman Wontumi himself. He gave us a witness that suggests that Chairman Wontumi as a person hasn't come to the site, although he has been given the concession,” he disclosed.

Chairman Wontumi and two other accused persons are standing trial on allegations of illegal mining in the Samreboi area.

A former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has told the Accra High Court that Akonta Mining Limited acted as a whistleblower by reporting illegal mining activities on its concession to state authorities.#GraphicOnline pic.twitter.com/Jn14nrQo4E

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) June 1, 2026

MAG/VPO

Cabinet walkout, premature campaigns trigger Mahama and NDC Elders' crackdown: