The High Court has directed the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, to begin reporting directly to the Court Registrar.
This order comes as part of an ongoing trial in which he and his company are accused of permitting two individuals to carry out mining activities on his concession without obtaining the required ministerial approval.
The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, announced new bail conditions after determining that the case investigator had failed to follow earlier instructions set by the court. Under the original bail terms, Chairman Wontumi was required to report to the investigator on the first and third Monday of every month.
The court also instructed the investigator to maintain a complete record showing whether Chairman Wontumi remained within the jurisdiction.
According to the court, the investigator did not comply with these requirements, prompting the judge to transfer the reporting responsibilities. The Registrar of the High Court has now been ordered to perform all duties that were initially assigned to the case investigator.
During the hearing, the defence team filed a motion requesting additional disclosures from the prosecution. They argued that certain documents, which they considered essential to adequately prepare their case, had not been provided.
However, the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the motion. He argued that the defence failed to show how the requested materials would be exculpatory. He also added that the prosecution did not have the documents in its possession and could not obtain them.
After reviewing the application and the supporting affidavits, the judge dismissed the defence’s request. She ruled:
“There is no disclosure of justification for these documents. Secondly, the prosecution has indicated that they do not have these documents and are unable to procure same. Accordingly, the application is dismissed.”
Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited are facing two counts of assigning mineral rights without approval and two counts of purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Also standing trial is Kwame Antwi, a director of the company, who faces the same charges.
Chairman Wontumi has pleaded not guilty and is currently on bail set at GH¢15,000,000.
