The Accra High Court has set July 3 to deliver judgement in the case against NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi, Kwame Antwi and his Akonta Mining Company Ltd after defence closed their case.
Wontumi has been charged with assigning mining rights to Henry Okum, without approval from the Minister responsible for Mines, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act and facilitating illegal mining operations on his Samreboi concession in the Western region.
Prosecution relied on the testimonies of four witnesses; Michael Gyedu Ayisi (PW1), an artisanal miner and site supervisor, Henry Okum (PW2), a licensed small-scale miner, Detective Chief Inspector Sarfo Asiedu Kwasi (PW3) the investigator on the case and Senior Legal Manager at the Minerals Commission Joseph Iroko (PW4).
The defence called on five witnesses including the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman who testified on his own behalf.
Edem Gomashie a mining expert, George Mireku Duker former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah former Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council and Evans Addae the Assemblyman for the Samreboi electoral area gave varying testimonies to aid the case of Wontumi with the fifth witness testifying on Wednesday, June 3.
The presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay directed the parties to file their written submissions by June 17 if they’re so minded.
If convicted, Chairman Wontumi could face up to 25 years’ imprisonment and up to 15,000 penalty units equivalent to 180,000 cedis.
By Laud Adu-Asare
