The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, has announced that the State intends to strongly oppose a no-case submission filed by the lawyers representing the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Basiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi.
In a post on social media, Justice Srem-Sai revealed that State Attorneys have officially concluded the Republic’s case against Chairman Wontumi and his two co-accused: Kwame Antwi, who is currently at large, and Akonta Mining Limited.
The case is based on allegations that Chairman Wontumi unlawfully permitted illegal mining activities, referred to as galamsey, on his Samreboi mining concession without obtaining the necessary approval from the sector minister.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, the prosecution called four witnesses to support its case.
The first witness, identified as a headman in the galamsey operation, testified that he supervised various illegal miners working on the concession. He was arrested alongside other miners at an office belonging to Akonta Mining on the site.
The second witness, who employed the headman, informed the court that he had an agreement with Chairman Wontumi to conduct mining activities and reclaim parts of the land. He further alleged that Chairman Wontumi used his political influence to secure national security protection for their operations.
A police detective, who was the third witness, tendered investigative statements, including one in which Chairman Wontumi admitted granting part of his concession to the second witness. The accused, however, maintained that the arrangement was solely for land reclamation and not for illegal mining, and that no payment was made for the exercise.
The fourth witness, a mining law and regulatory expert, testified that permitting another party to mine or undertake reclamation work on a concession requires prior ministerial approval. He told the court that Akonta Mining had no such approval.
Justice Srem-Sai revealed that lawyers for Chairman Wontumi have indicated their intention to file a submission of no case, arguing that the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence to warrant the accused opening their defence.
Under court rules, the defence has 14 days to file the application. However, the Deputy Attorney-General emphasized that the State is fully prepared to challenge the move.
“Our Attorneys will oppose the submission of no case,” he stated, expressing confidence in the evidence led so far in the Chairman Wontumi trial.
The court’s decision on the submission is expected to determine whether Chairman Wontumi will be required to mount a defence in the high-profile trial, which forms part of the broader national effort to combat illegal mining.
