Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will know his fate on July 3, 2026, after the defence closed its case before the Accra High Court on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The court fixed the date for judgment following the testimony of the defence’s final witness, Evans Addae, an Assembly Member for the Samreboi Atigarikrom Electoral Area in the Western Region.
Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, are standing trial over allegations of facilitating mining activities on the Samreboi concession without the requisite ministerial approval, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
At the close of proceedings, the court directed parties wishing to file written addresses to do so on or before June 17, 2026.
Final Witness
Addae, who testified as a substitute for the defence’s final witness, adopted his witness statement and told the court that although illegal mining had been taking place on the Samreboi concession since 2021 and continued to date, 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 recording dated May 24, 2026.
Counsel for the accused, Andy Appiah-Kubi, argued that the footage demonstrated that illegal mining activities were currently ongoing on the concession and that those involved were not acting under the direction of Chairman Wontumi or Akonta Mining Limited.
Objection Over Video Evidence
The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, objected to the admission of the pen drive into evidence, contending that the video was irrelevant to the issues before the court.
According to him, the charges relate to events alleged to have occurred in 2025, making a video recorded in 2026 immaterial to the prosecution’s case.
“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.
Dr Srem-Sai further argued that the footage was self-serving because it was recorded while the trial was ongoing. He also maintained that the exact location shown in the video had not been established.
In response, Appiah-Kubi relied on Section 60(1) of the Evidence Act, 1975 (NRCD 323), arguing that the footage was relevant because it corroborated the witness’s testimony that illegal mining activities were still taking place on the concession and were not attributable to Akonta Mining Limited.
The court subsequently admitted the pen drive into evidence, indicating that it would assess its probative value at the appropriate stage.
Cross-examination
During cross-examination, Addae said that although he knew Chairman Wontumi, he had never personally interacted with him.
He also testified that he had never seen Chairman Wontumi on the Samreboi concession.
When asked whether Chairman Wontumi could have visited the concession without his knowledge, Addae replied: “No idea. I have never seen the first accused person on the Samreboi concession.”
The witness further stated that he had no knowledge of Chairman Wontumi instructing anyone to undertake mining activities on the concession.
The prosecution also referred him to portions of his witness statement in which he described prosecution witness Michael Ayisi Adu as a well-known illegal miner.
Addae confirmed seeing Adu on the concession on several occasions but admitted that he had never reported him to the police, Akonta Mining Limited, or any other authority.
Following the witness’s testimony, Appiah-Kubi formally closed the defence case.
“That will be the end of the case of A1 and A3,” counsel told the court.
Judgment has been scheduled for July 3, 2026.
