The second defence witness for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Samreboi illegal mining case, George Mireku Duker, has told the court that mining concessionaires were encouraged to reclaim and restore lands degraded through their operations.

According to him, this was the strategy adopted by the previous NPP government to ensure responsible environmental management in the sector.

He added that Section 14 of Act 703 of Ghana’s Minerals and Mining Act requires prior written approval from the sector minister and specifically governs the transfer, assignment, mortgage, or other dealings in mineral rights.

“A concessionaire without a permit has no right to mine.Counsel is right if there is no written document to meet the dictates of Section 14. It becomes clear that there is no action at all,” he added.

The former minister’s explanation appears to form a key part of the defence in the ongoing criminal trial involving the Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman and his company, Akonta Mining. Last year, the court suspended two trial cases involving Wontumi, were postponed.

The first case, which concerns allegations that he permitted mining activities on his concession at Samreboi without the required approval, proceedings was adjourned to November 12.

While the second case, in which Wontumi he is accused of engaging in mining operations within the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without authorization, was also postponed to December 4 because the presiding judge is currently on leave.

The adjournment became necessary on the back of a request from the prosecution to enable them to serve the defense with necessary disclosures.

Chairman Wontumi, has been accused of aiding individuals to mine without proper licence at Samreboi concession.

Meanwhile, Wontumi’s lawyer has noted that there is no evidence to support the galamsey charges levelled against his client.

Speaking to the media on Friday, October 10, Enoch Afoakwa noted that Chairman Wontumi is unshaken in his insistence on innocence in the face of all galamsey charges.

He added, “So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven.”

“When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to all the several counts of allegations that have been levelled against him. So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven".

Chairman Wontumi, was released from police custody after spending three nights in detention on Friday, October 10.

His release followed the fulfillment of bail requirements totaling GHS25 million, imposed in connection with two separate illegal mining cases currently before the court.

On October 7, he was unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra.

In one of the cases, the court granted him GHS15 million bail with two sureties, while in the other, an additional GHS10 million bail was set, also with two sureties—one of whom must justify with landed property.

The court further directed Wontumi to report to investigators once every week for the first month and prohibited him from traveling outside the country without explicit approval.