The State prosecution has closed its case in the trial of former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, and two others over alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano-Nimire Forest Reserve.
At the Accra Criminal Court today, the State Attorney’s after calling three witnesses, made up of two former employees of Akonta Mining Company Limited and a detective from the Ghana Police Service closed it case.
According to the prosecution, the two former employees testified about Wontumi’s alleged involvement in the company’s mining activities in the forest reserve.
Also, the police detective also tendered drone footage, other audiovisual materials and official communications in evidence to support it testimonies.
The prosecution further disclosed that the accused persons had, during cross-examination, sought to distance themselves from mining activities in the Tano-Nimire Forest Reserve.
Following the prosecution closing it case, counsel for the accused persons asked the court to allow him to recall the first prosecution witness for further cross-examination.
However, the court has given the defence until Friday, October 30, to file a formal application seeking the witness’s recall.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to November 4 for the court to hear the application.
In related news, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General, has told the Accra High Court that Chairman Wontumi is a high flight risk and should not be granted bail.
According to Srem-Sai, Wontumi’s own lawyers have shown he is a flight risk.
He further argued that the appellant’s conduct during the trial could not, on its own, serve as a reliable basis for determining whether he would abscond if granted bail.
The Deputy AG told the court that the prosecution has exhibited a video recording in which Wontumi’s own lawyer was seen on television describing his client as unruly.
The Deputy AG is quoted to have said, “It is a fact, and the affidavit in support in paragraph 15 has confirmed that the prisoner is standing trial in two other criminal courts, each of those trials staring the prisoner in the face with substantial prison terms which, as the law prescribes, would be served consecutively instead of concurrently”.
“We have also deposed and exhibited a video recording, and in that video recording, counsel for the accused was seen on television telling the public that his client, that is the prisoner, is unruly and that but for his exceptional personal management skill, the prisoner at the time of arrest would have run his car over law enforcement agents to avoid arrest,” he submitted.
“This is not the prosecution’s account of the prisoner’s character. It is the prisoner’s own lawyer giving a vivid account of what transpired on the day of arrest,” the Deputy AG said.
“That was even when nothing was at stake. Not even one day of prison sentence. When the accused person was absolutely innocent and had not been proven guilty. So my lady can imagine today when he is facing a 20-year jail term and has been declared guilty,” Dr Srem-Sai argued.
Meanwhile, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, a High Court Judge, has set November 4, 2026, to deliver a ruling on a bail application filed by Bernard Antwi Bosiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, pending appeal.
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