The High Court in Accra has scheduled March 16, 2026, to determine whether Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, should open his defence in a case involving allegations of illegal mining on his concession.

Boasiako, together with his company, Akonta Mining Company Ltd, is accused of allowing Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to conduct mining activities on the company’s concession without prior approval from the sector minister.

The Attorney-General has filed six charges against the accused, including permitting unlicensed mining and facilitating mining operations without authorisation. During the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses to support its case.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence filed a “no case to answer” submission, urging the court to acquit and discharge their clients.

The defence argued that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case on any of the six counts.

“Considering the evidence adduced, the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused. The case is fundamentally flawed, both in the absence of key evidence and in the reliability of what has been presented,” the defence submitted.

The court is expected to rule on March 16 on whether Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Ltd should be called to open their defence.