One accused person in the Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, in the unlicensed mining (popularly known as galamsey) case, has been arrested.
The individual was arrested by the Police last week and has been granted bail, according to the Deputy Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai.
Speaking exclusively on the Keypoints programme on TV3, on Saturday, January 10, Srem-Sai did not provide particulars of the accused person except to say he had previously been at large.
“In that case, one of the accused persons was at large. We have arrested him and so we are going to place him before court next week. We couldn’t find him since we started the case but we arrested him last week.
He has been granted police bail and next week are going to arraign him before court,” he stated.
Chairman Wontumi together with four others has been charged with seven counts of illegal mining related offenses.
The politician pleaded not guilty to two counts of Mining without a license, abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and abetting the unauthorised erection of buildings in a forest reserve.
The charges proffered against the five persons are:
1. Akonta Mining Company Limited (1st Accused)
Represented in court by Chairman Wontumi, the company pleaded not guilty to all counts.
-Count 1: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have operated in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in 2022 without authorisation from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
-Count 4: Felling trees in a forest reserve without authority — accused of illegally felling over 300 merchantable trees and numerous saplings without written permission from the Forestry Commission.
-Count 6: Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without authorisation — alleged to have constructed makeshift structures and checkpoints within the forest without official approval.
2. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (2nd Accused)
Pleaded not guilty to all counts.
-Count 2: Undertaking a mining operation without a licence — charged as co-owner/director of Akonta Mining for allegedly engaging in unlicensed mining in 2022.
-Count 5: Abetting the unauthorised felling of trees — allegedly facilitated the felling of protected trees in the forest reserve.
-Count 7: Abetting the unauthorized erection of buildings — accused of aiding the construction of unauthorised structures in the forest.
3. Kwame Antwi (3rd Accused – At Large)
Co-director of Akonta Mining.
-Counts 2, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Wontumi for undertaking mining without a licence, abetting unauthorised felling of trees, and abetting the erection of unauthorised buildings.
Investigators say efforts are ongoing to trace his whereabouts, as he has yet to participate in company operations.
4. Edward Akuoko (4th Accused)
General Manager, Akonta Mining.
-Count 3: Undertaking mining operations without a licence — alleged to have overseen illegal mining activities on behalf of the company.
-Counts 5 and 7: Jointly charged for abetting the unauthorised felling of trees and the erection of buildings.
5. Kwadwo Owusu Bempah (5th Accused – At Large)
Operations Manager, Akonta Mining.
-Counts 3, 5, and 7: Jointly charged with Akuoko for undertaking unlicensed mining, abetting the felling of trees, and aiding the construction of unauthorised structures.
By Gifty Boateng