The first prosecution witness in the ongoing criminal trial involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, and his co-accused, has told the High Court in Accra that he voluntarily offered to testify for the state after concluding that attempts were being made to shift blame onto him.
The witness, Edward Akuoko, who previously served as General Manager of Akonta Mining Limited, made the statement during cross-examination on Monday, May 18, 2026.
He told the court that his decision to engage with the Attorney-General’s office was entirely voluntary and not influenced by any external pressure.
Allegations of Blame-Shifting
Akuoko explained that after being granted bail alongside other accused persons, he became concerned about remarks allegedly made suggesting that Wontumi had distanced himself from activities at the Samreboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve sites.
According to him, those developments made him feel that responsibility for the alleged illegal mining operations was being redirected onto him.
He further told the court that discussions he had with legal counsel reinforced his belief that certain strategies being pursued were primarily aimed at protecting the second accused person at his expense.
Voluntary Approach to the Attorney-General
The witness insisted that he independently walked to the office of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to offer himself as a prosecution witness.
“My lady, bearing in mind the probable sentence that I was to face… I decided not to risk my life. I therefore took my personal decision without anyone’s influence and walked up to the AG’s department and offered myself as a prosecution witness,” he told the court.
He maintained that his cooperation with the prosecution was based on his assessment of the available evidence and his personal legal risk.
Charges Against the Accused
Wontumi, Akonta Mining Limited, and other accused persons are standing trial over allegations of illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The charges include undertaking mining operations in a forest reserve without lawful authority, felling trees without written approval, and constructing structures in a protected forest area, contrary to provisions of the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243), as amended.
Wontumi is also facing individual counts of abetment in relation to the alleged illegal activities, under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
All accused persons have pleaded not guilty and have been admitted to bail.
Witness Testimony and Cooperation
Akuoko further told the court that his decision to cooperate with investigators was strengthened by his belief that documentary and operational evidence already available to the prosecution supported his account of events on the ground.
He added that the statement he provided to the Attorney-General’s office aligned with existing records and, in his view, preceded his formal caution statement to police investigators.
He was subsequently discharged by the court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
The prosecution is expected to call its next witness when proceedings resume.
