NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has vehemently denied authorising prosecution witness Henry Okum (PW2) to mine on Akonta Mining’s concession.
He insisted the arrangement between them was strictly for land reclamation and coconut planting.
Testifying in his own defence on Thursday, May 21, at the High Court in Accra, Wontumi said PW2 was only permitted onto the concession to reclaim degraded portions of the land by planting coconut trees, denying allegations that he assigned mineral rights or knowingly facilitated illegal mining activities.
Wontumi, who is standing trial together with Akonta Mining on charges including assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval, opened his defence after the prosecution closed its case.
Before his testimony, the defence had called two witnesses — mining expert Wisdom Gomashie and former Deputy Lands Minister George Mireku Duker.
Under cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem Sai, Wontumi admitted that he allowed PW2 access to the concession but maintained that the purpose was reclamation, not mining.
“I didn’t give him permission to mine,” he told the court.
“He came to reclaim the land and plant coconut trees so that when the coconuts mature, we would share.”
He further testified that he never assisted PW2 to acquire excavators or other earth-moving equipment, contrary to the prosecution’s claims.
story filed by Obaapa Bella
