Wontumi’s lawyers seek recall of prosecution witness in illegal mining case

Lawyers for former Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have indicated plans to ask the court to recall the prosecution’s first witness, Edward Akuoko, for further examination in the case involving alleged illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

The application comes after the prosecution formally closed its case following the cross-examination and discharge of its final witness, Chief Inspector Eugene Glover, the investigator in the case.

Defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea told the court that he intends to rely on Section 68(1) of the Evidence Act to seek Akuoko’s recall. He described the witness as a “self-confessed illegal miner” and said the application would be filed within the week.

The court directed the defence to serve the application on the prosecution via WhatsApp by October 30, 2026. The prosecution is expected to file its response by November 3, ahead of the hearing of the application on November 4.

Akuoko’s account of the mining operations

Akuoko, who was initially charged as an accused person before becoming a prosecution witness, stated in his witness statement that he worked for Wontumi for about 10 years as the public relations officer of Hansol Company Limited.

He said he was later appointed General Manager of Akonta Mining in late 2021, receiving a monthly salary of GH¢20,000 and a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 for official duties.

According to Akuoko, Wontumi initially informed him that the company had secured a mining licence for an area near Asankragua in the Western Region.

He alleged, however, that Wontumi subsequently instructed him to relocate the company's mining activities into the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

Akuoko said he questioned whether the required permits had been obtained but was assured that the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources was aware of the operations.

He later discovered, according to his testimony, that a letter from the Forestry Commission being relied upon by the company was a no-objection letter issued in response to a request for information and did not constitute a mining permit.

He nevertheless acknowledged that mining activities were conducted within the forest reserve.

Witness admits role in confrontation
Akuoko also gave an account of a confrontation at the mining site on August 17, 2022, involving a team that included a journalist and representatives of Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Limited.

He said he went to the site after being informed of unusual activity and found that some of the company's equipment and logistics had been seized.

Akuoko admitted that he became angry, demanded the return of the items, forcibly retrieved them, loaded them into his pickup truck and drove away.

Chief Inspector Glover, in his testimony, also referred to the incident, alleging that a team comprising Forestry Commission officials, chiefs, media personnel and representatives of Samartex encountered armed men allegedly led by Akuoko.

According to the investigator, Akuoko retrieved equipment that had been seized by the team.

Chief Inspector Glover further relied on an undertaking signed by Akuoko before the Enchi District Court on January 31, 2023, concerning the removal of mining equipment from the forest reserve.

Akuoko also referred to the undertaking in his witness statement, explaining that he signed it before collecting equipment following the release of Chinese partners who had been arrested during a Forestry Commission operation.

The defence's proposed application to recall Akuoko is expected to determine whether the court will allow further examination of his evidence as the trial moves into its next phase.