Court adjourns Wontumi's case to March 10, expected to rule on Submission of No case
By DL News
Published
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In court on February 18, defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi told Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay that they had now filed submissions for a “no case to answer” application, arguing that the evidence led so far does not establish a prima facie basis
The mining case involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, has been adjourned to March 10, 2026, following his filing of a submission of no case asking the High Court to throw out the case against him, his firm Akonta Mining Company Limited, and a second accused person said to be on the run.
The prosecution ended its case on February 4, 2026, after calling four witnesses, with Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai leading the state team. The Republic alleges that Mr. Boasiako allowed third parties to mine on Akonta’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without obtaining the required approval from the sector minister, an allegation he disputes.
In court on February 18, defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi told Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay that they had now filed submissions for a “no case to answer” application, arguing that the evidence led so far does not establish a prima facie basis to require the accused persons to open their defence.
The charges are linked to a police operation in the Samreboi area on April 16–17, 2025, during which officers arrested Michael Ayisi Gyedu and 28 others on the concession and retrieved items including pump-action and single-barrel guns, cartridges, machetes, suspected gold, pumping equipment, excavators, vehicles, motorbikes and cash. The state has indicated it will seek forfeiture of the seized items.
Investigators say Mr Gyedu named Henry Okum as the person who deployed him to supervise activities on the site. The prosecution further claims Mr Okum later told police he approached Chairman Wontumi around September 2024 and was allowed to operate within the concession, but without the legally required ministerial authorisation.
The court’s upcoming decision on the no-case motion will determine whether Chairman Wontumi and the other accused must mount a defence or are discharged at this stage.
