Court give Wontumi 14 days file Submission of no case as prosecution close case
The decision came after the fourth and final prosecution witness, an expert from the Minerals Commission, completed his evidence.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly called Chairman Wontumi, has been given 14 days by the Accra High Court to file a submission of no case in the ongoing illegal mining case brought by the state against him and his company.
The decision came after the fourth and final prosecution witness, an expert from the Minerals Commission, completed his evidence. He was cross-examined by Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for Akonta Mining Company Limited, which is owned by Mr Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
After the prosecution closed its case, the defence asked the court for four weeks to file a submission of no case. That procedure, provided for under Section 173 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), allows an accused person to argue that prosecutors have failed to establish a prima facie case requiring a defence.
The trial judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, declined the request for four weeks and directed the defence to file within 14 days. The case has been adjourned to 18 February 2026.
Chairman Wontumi and his company are accused of allowing two people to carry out mining operations on the firm’s concession without ministerial approval. The charges include two counts of assignment of mineral rights without approval and two counts of intentionally facilitating an unlicensed mining operation at Samreboi in the Western Region.
A director of Akonta Mining, Kwame Antwi, faces similar charges but is currently said to be on the run. All accused persons have pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail pending trial.
