By Ghana News 
Courtrooms can easily break even the toughest political figures. On May 21 2026 drama completely took over the Accra High Court when Bernard Antwi Boasiako took the witness box.
Popularly known as Chairman Wontumi the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party faced intense cross examination regarding the Akonta Mining Limited illegal mining case. The heat of the moment reportedly brought him to tears prompting him to request a glass of water to calm his nerves.
The Coconut Planting Defense
The prosecution accused Wontumi of illegally assigning mineral rights and facilitating unlicensed mining activities. However the forty nine year old entrepreneur fiercely defended his innocence. He explained that he only permitted prosecution witness Henry Okum onto the Samreboi concession for land reclamation. According to Wontumi the agreement focused strictly on planting coconuts on degraded lands rather than extracting gold. It takes a massive stretch of imagination to confuse a coconut farm with a heavy gold mining operation. He insisted he never received any financial benefits from these unauthorized activities.
Three Factual Insights on Ghana Mining Laws
To fully understand this ongoing legal battle we must look at the established facts surrounding the local extraction industry.
- The Minerals and Mining Act 703 strictly prohibits any company from transferring or assigning mineral rights without prior written approval from the sector Minister.
- Official records confirm that Akonta Mining Company Limited holds a legally valid ten year mining lease for the Samreboi concession which the government issued on July 23 2021.
- Unlicensed mining operations locally known as galamsey consistently destroy vital ecosystems and water bodies across the Western Region of Ghana.
Shifting the Blame to Trespassers
Wontumi did not just defend himself he actively pointed fingers elsewhere. His legal team presented a crucial letter dated April 19 2021 addressed to the Western Regional Security Council. In this document Akonta Mining officially complained about an influx of illegal Chinese miners invading their concession. The company specifically requested security intervention to arrest the trespassers and seize their equipment. This strategic piece of evidence logically supports their claim that external forces caused the environmental damage.
The presiding judge adjourned the proceedings to May 28 2026 to allow the defense team time to file additional witness statements. The prosecution currently relies heavily on the uncorroborated testimony of Henry Okum without substantial documentary evidence. Wontumi remains highly confident and expects the court to acquit him and his company completely. Until the court resumes Ghanaians will closely watch how this high profile mining drama ultimately concludes.
Also Read: Chairman Wontumi Denies Formal Mining Contract in Accra High Court Trial
Source – ghananewspage.com