Court to Rule Today in Chairman Wontumi Illegal Mining Case

The High Court in Accra is expected to deliver its judgment today in the illegal mining case involving the founder of Akonta Mining Company Limited, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

Chairman Wontumi is standing trial over allegations that he facilitated illegal mining activities and unlawfully assigned mineral rights without obtaining approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, as required by law. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against him.

Also standing trial is Akonta Mining’s Operations Manager, Edward Akuoko, who is facing related charges in connection with the alleged offences.

The judgment comes after months of court proceedings and follows Wontumi’s earlier grant of bail in two separate criminal cases before the High Court. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay admitted him to bail in the sum of GH¢15 million with three sureties, two of whom were required to justify the bail with landed property.

According to the prosecution, investigations linked Akonta Mining and some of its officials to alleged unlicensed mining operations and other breaches of Ghana’s mining laws. The state has maintained that the accused persons engaged in activities that violated regulations governing mineral rights and mining operations.

Today’s ruling is expected to determine whether the prosecution has proven its case against Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused, bringing a major chapter in one of Ghana’s most closely watched illegal mining prosecutions to a close.

source:GHEXTRACTIVES.COM