Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Region chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) together with his company Akonta Mining, have pleaded not guilty to accusation of carrying out illegal mining, notoriously known as galamsey at Samreboi in the Western Region.
This follows his appearance at an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, on Tuesday October 7.
Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, serving as 1st accused person, entered pleas on his own behalf and also for the company, as the 3rd accused on the charge sheet.
The other accused person, Kwame Antwi, currently at large is described as a co-owner and director of Akonta Mining Limited. According to media reports, the charge sheet indicates that Wontumi is facing two counts:
Count 1: Assignment of mineral rights without approval, contrary to Section 14(1) and Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
Count 4: Purposely facilitating an unlicenced mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
He also entered not guilty for Akonta Mining Company Limited as:
Count 3: Assignment of mineral rights without approval, contrary to Section 14(1) and Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
Count 6: Purposely facilitating an unlicenced mining operation, contrary to Section 99(2)(b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Section 3 of the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995)
The charges stem from alleged activities in Samreboi in 2024, where the company and its director are accused of unlawfully allowing two individuals—Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi—to undertake mining operations within Akonta’s concession without the prior written consent of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Meanwhile, the Court has outlined the bail conditions the accused person must satisfy after pleading not guilty to the six charges.
He was granted a bail of GH¢15 million with three sureties. Two out of the three sureties are supposed to be persons with landed properties.
He is required to deposit his passport with the registrar of the High Court and is to be placed on a stop list at all entry points. The three sureties are to deposit copies of their Ghana Cards with the registrar of the court.”
Additionally, Wontumi is to report to investigators on the first and third Monday of every month. The investigator is expected to file evidence of these entries at the end of each month.
The charges reflect the state’s increasing reliance on existing mining legislation to tackle illegal mining (galamsey).
Section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act restricts the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial approval, while Section 99(2)(b) criminalises the facilitation of unlicensed mining.
On Monday, October 6, the Police granted Chairman Wontumi GH¢1 million bail with two sureties. This followed his appearance at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over his alleged involvement in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey).
The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, had earlier issued a warning in Accra during a Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engagement with President John Dramani Mahama that Wontumi should report to the CID on Monday, or he would order his arrest.
The stated day, the controversial NPP bigwig did as directed following which he was granted bail.
The action in court today begins years of failed attempts by critics and Civil Society Organixations (CSOs) to the Police to prosecute him after the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in a statement in 2022 accused him of entering the forest reserve without permit to mine.
By Gifty Boateng