Court sets July 3 for judgment in Wontumi Akonta mining trial
Businessman and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will learn his fate on July 3, 2026, after the Accra High Court closed the defence case on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The court fixed the date for judgment after the defence called its final witness, Evans Addae, an assembly member for the Samreboi Atigarikrom Electoral Area in the Western Region.
Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, are facing trial over allegations that they facilitated mining operations on the Samreboi concession without ministerial approval, in breach of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
At the end of proceedings, the court directed parties who wished to file written submissions to do so on or before June 17, 2026.
Final defence witness
Evans Addae, who testified as the final defence witness, adopted his witness statement and told the court that illegal mining had been ongoing on the Samreboi concession since 2021 and was still continuing, but insisted that such activities were not carried out on the instructions of the accused persons.
To support his testimony, he tendered a pen drive containing a video dated May 24, 2026.
Lead counsel for the accused, Andy Appiah Kubi, argued that the footage demonstrated that illegal mining was ongoing on the concession and that those involved were not acting under instructions from Akonta Mining Limited or its directors.
Objection from prosecution
The Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem Sai, objected to the admission of the video evidence, arguing that it was irrelevant to the case since the alleged offences before the court relate to events said to have occurred in 2025.
“The issues before this court relate to matters that we allege occurred in 2025. The video is therefore of no relevance to the issues in this trial,” he submitted.
He further argued that the footage was self serving, having been recorded during the pendency of the trial, and also questioned whether the location shown had been properly established.
In response, Mr Appiah Kubi cited Section 60(1) of the Evidence Act, 1975 (NRCD 323), insisting that the video was relevant as it supported the witness’s claim that illegal mining was still ongoing and not linked to Akonta Mining Limited.
The court admitted the pen drive into evidence, stating that it would be considered for its probative value.
Cross examination
Under cross-examination, Mr Addae told the court that although he knew Chairman Wontumi, he had never personally interacted with him.
He said he had never seen Wontumi on the Samreboi concession and could not confirm whether he had ever visited the site.
When asked whether it was possible for the accused to have visited without his knowledge, he responded that he had no idea, reiterating that he had never seen him there.
The witness also stated that he did not know whether Chairman Wontumi had instructed anyone to carry out mining activities on the concession.
The prosecution drew attention to parts of his statement in which he described a prosecution witness as a known illegal miner. Mr Addae confirmed he had seen the individual on the concession on several occasions but admitted he had not reported him to the police or any relevant authority.
Following his testimony, defence counsel Andy Appiah Kubi announced the closure of the defence case, stating, “That will be the end of the case of A1 and A3.”
The court subsequently fixed July 3, 2026, for judgment.