Accra High Court Fixes Judgment Date in Wontumi–Akonta Mining Trial
The Accra High Court has scheduled July 3, 2026, to deliver judgment in the criminal trial involving businessman and NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and his company, Akonta Mining Limited.
This follows the close of the defence case on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, after the final witness testified before the court and counsel formally concluded their submissions.
The accused persons are standing trial over allegations that they facilitated illegal mining operations on the Samreboi concession without ministerial authorisation, in breach of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
During proceedings, the defence called its final witness, Evans Addae, an assembly member for the Samreboi Atigarikrom Electoral Area in the Western Region.
The witness was introduced as a substitute for the final defence testimony.
Mr. Addae told the court that illegal mining activities had been ongoing on the concession since 2021 and were still continuing, but insisted that such activities were not conducted under the direction of the accused persons.
He also tendered a pen drive containing a video dated May 24, 2026, which he said supported his testimony that mining activities were still taking place on the concession independently of Akonta Mining Limited’s instructions.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the admissibility of the video, arguing that it was irrelevant to the period under consideration and that it lacked proper contextual verification regarding location and relevance to the charges.
However, defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi argued that the evidence was relevant under the Evidence Act, 1975 (NRCD 323), as it demonstrated that ongoing activities on the concession were not directed by the accused persons.
The court admitted the video into evidence, stating it would assign it appropriate weight during deliberations.
Under cross-examination, the witness said he had never personally seen Chairman Wontumi on the concession and had no direct evidence linking him to operations on the site. He also acknowledged familiarity with one prosecution witness described as an illegal miner but admitted he did not report the individual to any authority.
Following the completion of testimony, the defence formally closed its case, prompting the court to set July 3, 2026, for judgment.
Parties have been directed to file written addresses by June 17, 2026, ahead of the ruling.
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