The lead counsel for the embattled Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi, Alex Appiah-Kubi has disclosed that his client remains in custody despite being granted bail.
He said the bail conditions were made known to them in the evening of October 7, hence they are unable to meet them under the circumstances.
Speaking to newsmen after court proceedings on October 7, Mr Appiah-Kubi said, “we secured a bail and its associated conditions in the morning only to be slapped with another case that we needed to go to court to prosecute. So the charge sheet as was given to us, was around 2 O’clock.
“The court has just finished the bsecond one and also granted bail. Meeting the bail conditions at the present time will be difficult although we have the sureties. We hope that tomorrow we will complete the process and secure the release of the accused persons.” he said.
Mr Appiah-Kubi lamented the use of bail as a punishment against accused persons.
“It’s becoming too many that accused persons are being subjected to the difficulty in finding value for properties that will secure their bail. It’s a national issue that we need to discuss,” he told journalists.
Earlier, Chairman Wontumi had pleaded not guilty to two separate illegal mining charges against him and four others.
In the first case, Wontumi pleaded not guilty to charges of Assignment of mineral rights without approval and Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation.
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.
He was subsequently granted a bail of GHC15million with three sureties, two of them to be justified.
In the second case involving the activities of Akonta Mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest reserve, the embattled NPP chairman pleaded not guilty to two counts of Mining without a license, abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and abetting the unauthorised erection of buildings in a forest reserve.
He was granted a bail of GHC10 million with two sureties, one to be justified by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
The court also ordered him to report to investigators twice every month and deposit his passport next week.
The charges proffered against the five persons in the second case are:
1. Akonta Mining Company Limited (1st Accused)
Represented in court by Chairman Wontumi, the company pleaded not guilty to all counts.
-Count 1: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have operated in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in 2022 without authorisation from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
-Count 4: Felling trees in a forest reserve without authority — accused of illegally felling over 300 merchantable trees and numerous saplings without written permission from the Forestry Commission.
-Count 6: Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without authorisation — alleged to have constructed makeshift structures and checkpoints within the forest without official approval.
2. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (2nd Accused)
Pleaded not guilty to all counts.
-Count 2: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence — charged as co-owner/director of Akonta Mining for allegedly engaging in unlicensed mining in 2022.
-Count 5: Abetting the unauthorised felling of trees — allegedly facilitated the felling of protected trees in the forest reserve.
-Count 7: Abetting the unauthorised erection of buildings — accused of aiding the construction of unauthorised structures in the forest.
3. Kwame Antwi (3rd Accused – At Large)
Co-director of Akonta Mining.
-Counts 2, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Wontumi for undertaking mining without a licence, abetting unauthorised felling of trees, and abetting the erection of unauthorised buildings.
Investigators say efforts are ongoing to trace his whereabouts, as he has yet to participate in company operations.
4. Edward Akuoko (4th Accused)
General Manager, Akonta Mining.
-Count 3: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have overseen illegal mining activities on behalf of the company.
-Counts 5 and 7: Jointly charged for abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and the erection of buildings.
5. Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (5th Accused – At Large)
Operations Manager, Akonta Mining.
-Counts 3, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Akuoko for undertaking unlicensed mining, abetting the felling of trees, and aiding the construction of unauthorised structures.
At the Criminal Court 1, presiding judge Ruby Aryeetey granted Wontumi and Edward Akuoko, the Operations Manager of Akonta Mining Company 10 million cedis bail with two sureties, one to be justified.
The court also ordered him to report to Police investigators every other week and deposit his passport in a week’s time.
The case has since been adjourned to November 4 by which time the court expects the prosecution to have filed all disclosures and documents which will be relied on in the trial.
Reacting to the day’s development lead counsel for the NPP Ashanti regional chairman, Andy Appiah Kubi decried the use of bail conditions to frustrate accused persons.
“It’s becoming too many that accused persons are being subjected to the difficulty in finding value for properties that will secure their bail. It’s a national issue that we need to discuss,” Appiah Kubi noted to journalists on Tuesday afternoon.
By Laud Adu-Asare
