Court sets March 16 to decide Wontumi’s defence in mining trial

The High Court of Ghana in Accra has scheduled March 16, 2026, to rule on a submission filed by lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

The submission forms part of an ongoing criminal trial in which he is facing allegations related to illegal mining activities.

The decision will determine whether Mr. Boasiako and his company, Akonta Mining Company Ltd, will be required to present their defence in court or whether the charges against them should be dismissed at this stage of the proceedings.

The state has accused the politician and his company of allowing two individuals — Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi — to undertake mining activities on the company’s concession without first obtaining the required approval from the sector minister.

Prosecutors argue that the alleged actions amounted to a violation of the country’s mining regulations. As a result, the Attorney-General’s office has brought six separate charges against the accused persons.

Among the allegations are claims that the concession was used for mining operations without the necessary authorisation and that the accused persons facilitated activities that amounted to unlicensed mining.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented evidence through four witnesses who testified in support of the case against Mr. Boasiako and the company.

After the prosecution completed its presentation, lawyers representing the accused persons challenged the strength of the evidence placed before the court. They filed a submission of no case to answer, urging the court to bring the trial to an end without requiring their clients to mount a defence.

According to the defence team, the evidence presented during the trial does not establish the essential elements required to sustain the charges.

“Having regard to the evidence adduced by the prosecution and the essential elements of the offences charged, it is respectfully submitted that the prosecution has woefully failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused persons on all six counts,” counsel told the court.

The lawyers further argued that the prosecution’s case is flawed because it lacks credible and reliable proof linking their clients to the alleged offences.

“The prosecution’s case suffers from fundamental and fatal deficiencies, both in terms of the absence of evidence on essential elements and in terms of the quality and reliability of the evidence adduced,” the defence submitted.

The court must now determine whether the prosecution has presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case that warrants calling the accused persons to respond to the allegations.

If the court rules that a prima facie case has been established, Mr. Boasiako and Akonta Mining Company Ltd will be required to open their defence and respond to the charges before the trial proceeds further.

However, if the court upholds the defence’s submission that the prosecution has not met the required legal threshold, the accused persons could be discharged without being called upon to present their defence.

The ruling expected on March 16, 2026, will therefore determine whether the case proceeds to the next stage of the trial.