The Accra High Court has granted NPP Ashanti regional chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi a bail of GHC15million with three sureties.
Earlier Wontumi pleaded not guilty to charges of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
Wontumi together with two others including his company, Akonta Mining were arraigned before the High Court over illegal mining related offenses.
Per the prosecution’s facts of the case, Wontumi permitted Henry Okum a native of Krobo Odumase to mine in the concession of Akonta Mining without the requisite approval from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in 2024.
In court on Tuesday, October 7, Wontumi’s lawyers led by Andy Appiah Kubi prayed the court to grant his client bail.
Wontumi’s lawyers led by Andy Appiah Kubi has noted to the court that the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman is on a police enquiry bail.
The lawyers added that Wontumi is a man of substance, family man with wives and children and is very known.
But prosecution led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai, indicated that though they didn’t oppose the bail application the conditions ought to be properly determined.
“The second Accused Person is at large. A1 who is a co-shareholder with the second accused has not been able to provide any evidence as to any alleged existence of the second accused.
“If the conditions of bail are not appropriately determined this trial will be severely frustrated.
“We pray that the APs travel documents be retained. That the reporting time of the investigators be such that any attempt to flee would be easily detected.
Should be at least twice a week at least for the first month.
In respect of the sureties and amount of be such that should the AP not be found again, it would be enough to at least reclaim the damages done to the environment,” the Deputy A-G submitted.
After hearing both counsels, presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay granted Wontumi a GHc15m bail with three sureties, two to be justified.
Additionally, the court ordered him to deposit his passport with the court registry and report to investigators twice a month.
His name is also to be added to the stop list on all entry points across the country.
