Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has officially begun mounting his defence in the ongoing illegal mining case tied to operations on his Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The High Court is expected to hear testimony from former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, who has been listed as one of the defence witnesses when proceedings resume on May 14, 2026.

During proceedings on Thursday, lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah-Kubi, informed the court that the defence had complied with directives to file witness statements for the accused persons.

Three witness statements have so far been submitted — by Chairman Wontumi, Mr Duker, and Wisdom Edem Gomashie.

The defence has additionally filed a number of supporting documents, including Akonta Mining Company Limited’s lease agreement, correspondence with the Regional Security Council, and investigative cautionary statements intended to support the defence case.

Lawyers for the accused indicated that Mr Gomashie will be the first witness to take the stand when the trial resumes next week.

Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing six counts stemming from allegations that they authorised Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to carry out mining activities on the Akonta Mining concession without the required approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Prosecutors further allege that the accused persons facilitated illegal mining activities on the concession.

The charges include the assignment of mineral rights without ministerial consent and the deliberate facilitation of unlicensed mining, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).

Earlier this year, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and directed the accused to open their defence.

Although the defence challenged the ruling through a submission of no case application, the court dismissed the request.

Chairman Wontumi’s legal team later appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal and sought a stay of proceedings pending the appeal, but the application was rejected, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.