Edward Akuoko, a former General Manager of Akonta Mining, has told the High Court in Accra that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, instructed them to mine in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
According to Edward Akuoko, testifying as the first prosecution witness, he disclosed that instructed them despite the absence of the required mining permits.
Reports by Starr FM read, “In his witness statement, adopted by the court on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Ekuoko said Chairman Wontumi (the second accused) instructed them to carry out mining operations in the forest reserve.
“After some months, A2 asked us to move into another area to continue our mining,” he told the court.
“That area was in the Aowin District, near Enchi, in the Western North Region. It was a forest reserve—the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.”
Ekuoko said he questioned the legality of the directive.
“I knew from experience that we required permits and licences to mine in such areas. I asked A2 whether we had that authorisation, since I did not intend to do anything illegal,” he said.
According to him, Chairman Wontumi assured him that approval had been secured.
“He told me to proceed, saying he had spoken with the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and that the Minister was aware.”
Ekuoko said he later discovered that the so-called permit was not a valid mining licence”.
“It was only a no-objection letter from the Forestry Commission in response to a request by the Minister. It was not a mining permit. We began mining in the reserve regardless,” he stated.
Following the adoption of his statement as evidence-in-chief, counsel for the accused persons, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, began cross-examining the witness”.
In other news, Chairman Wontumi, has been granted one more chance to file his witness statements in the alleged Samreboi illegal mining case.
The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, presided by Judge Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey, gave the ruling after Wontumi failed to meet an April 14, 2026, deadline.
Wontumi’s lawyer, when the case was called on Monday, April 20, told the court that a repeat application seeking a stay of proceedings had been filed at the Court of Appeal and requested an adjournment until a ruling is reached.
However, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay has refused the prayer for adjournment and ordered Wontumi to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026, ahead of a case management conference set for May 7.
Justice Kocuvie-Tey further added that proceedings will continue pending a decision by the Court of Appeal.
However, Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice, told the High Court to convict Chairman Wontumi.
The Deputy Attorney General prayed to the court to convict Wontumi after defence lawyers failed to file witness statements.
According to the Deputy A-G, the repeated failure of the application does not automatically entitle Wontumi to a stay of proceedings and told the court to proceed to convict him.
He described Wontumi’s failure to file his witness statements as a failure by the accused to mount a defence.
The Accra High Court 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.
See the post below:
Wontumi instructed us to mine in Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve… – Edward Akuoko (Former GM, Akonta Mining) tells court#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/lzjxsCskp0
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) April 30, 2026