BREAKING – High Court orders Wontumi to open his defence in Samreboi illegal mining trial

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Makay
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Chairman Wontumi

An Accra High Court has ordered Chairman Wontumi to open his defence in his Samreboi illegal mining trial.

The High Court dismissed the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman’s application filed by lawyers for the submission of no case.

On Monday, March 16, 2026, Justice Audrey Kokuvie Tay ruled that the state prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against Chairman Wontumi, his company Akonta Mining, and Mr Kwame Antwi, who is currently at large.

The Judge stressed that the Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and Mr Kwame Antwi must explain the evidence adduced against them.

In court, the State team, led by Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr Justice Srem-Sai, implored the court to dismiss the application.

He argued that credible, admissible and legally sufficient evidence had been led touching on every essential element of the offences charged.

Dr Justice Srem-Sai highlighted that Wontumi admitted in both his investigation, caution and charge statements that he allowed the second prosecution witness access to the concession.

The State prosecution added that evidence showed the accused person did not merely allow statutory breaches to occur.

“He financially aligned himself with the unlawful operations, granted operational access, and provided logistical support without the required approvals,” the State had submitted.

Justice Audrey Kokuvie Tay agreed with the prosecution’s position, ruling that there was sufficient evidence on record that required the accused persons to mount a defence.

With Wontumi’s no-case submission dismissed, the trial will now proceed to the defence stage.

Wontumi and his co-accused will have the chance to produce their version of events regarding the alleged mining operations at Samreboi.

It will be recalled that Chairman Wontumi and other persons are standing trial for allegedly undertaking mining operations on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without the consent of the sector minister.

The state has also accused Wontumi of permitting two individuals to undertake mining activities on the concession without authority and facilitating those operations.

In related news, Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, in 2025, revealed that the state will prosecute Chairman Wontumi, Wontumi Farms and its directors over alleged GHS24m EXIM Bank fraud.

According to the Attorney-General, Chairman Wontumi and his company, Wontumi Farms Limited, made fraudulent misrepresentations to Exim Bank to obtain the loan facility.

He revealed that investigations conducted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office revealed evidence of defrauding by false pretences, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state.

Dr Dominic Ayine announced that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, chief promoter of Wontumi Farms, Exim Bank approved a medium term-loan facility of Ghs18,734,260.00, which included a grant component of Ghs6,768,260.00.

This offer was accepted via a letter dated January 23, 2018, and Chairman Wontumi, acting as the Chief Executive Officer of Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi Boasiako, as director of Wontumi Farms Limited.

The offer letter indicated that the approval of the medium-term loan facility was subject to the Bank’s terms and conditions. The loan offer letter further stated that the loan was secured with 10,000 acres of the farmland of Wontumi Farms Limited at Asare Nkwanta.

The breakdown of the approved Ghs18,734,260.00 loan as per the offer letter is as follows:

Purchase of agricultural plant and machinery – GH₵3,865,000.00

Working capital – GH₵8,101,000.00

Grant -staff cost and consultancy fees – GH₵6,768,260.00.

Dr Dominic Ayine revealed that the equipment was never procured, adding that the farming enterprise never materialised, with no young persons being employed in Asare Nkwatia.

According to the Attorney General, the company and its director and CEO forged a receipt in order to deceive Exim Bank into believing that they complied with the loan conditions.

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