Chairman Wontumi seeks acquittal in Akonta mining case

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has asked the High Court to acquit and discharge him in the case in which he is accused of allowing two individuals to mine on his concession without ministerial approval.

In a submission of no case, his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, argued that the Attorney General had not provided sufficient evidence to require the accused and his company to open their defence, according to a report by 3news.com on February 19, 2026.

“Considering the evidence presented by the prosecution and the essential elements of the offences charged, it is respectfully submitted that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused on all six counts,” Appiah-Kubi said.

He stated that the prosecution’s case suffers from “fundamental and fatal deficiencies,” both in the lack of evidence on essential elements and in the quality and reliability of the evidence presented.

Appiah-Kubi argued that permitting the individuals to mine did not constitute an assignment of mineral rights.

“Permission is a licence or authorisation to do something on another person’s property without transferring proprietary rights. An assignment, on the other hand, involves the transfer of the rights themselves. This distinction is critical and well-established in law,” he said.

He argued that the prosecution’s failure to provide evidence of an assignment was a fundamental flaw, making the charges of “assignment of mineral rights without approval” unsustainable.

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Regarding the count of facilitating unlicensed mining, Appiah-Kubi contended that the prosecution had not shown that his clients took any acts to facilitate the operations.

“The mere occurrence of unlicensed mining on their concession does not prove facilitation. The prosecution must show positive acts, which it has failed to do,” he argued.

He further stated that the prosecution failed to establish that the accused knew Ayisi and Okum were unlicensed miners.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai, is yet to respond to the submission of no case.

The Attorney General has charged Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Company Ltd, with six counts of permitting Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without prior approval from the sector minister, and with facilitating unlicensed mining. Four witnesses have been called by the prosecution.

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Michael Gyedu Ayisi has testified that he partnered with Henry Okum to operate on Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession.

Okum claimed he had permission from Chairman Wontumi to conduct mining activities and continued working on the concession until their arrest.

Under cross-examination, Ayisi admitted he had never met or communicated with Chairman Wontumi, did not have a mining licence, and had never applied for one.

He also acknowledged that he had no written agreement with the accused and had not paid any fees for permission to mine.

The case has been adjourned to March 10, 2026.

JKB/VPO

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