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The Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, has given an indication of his outfit’s strategy going forward in respect of the trail of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi.
This afternoon, our hard-working State Attorneys closed the Republic’s case against Chairman Wontumi (Bernard Antwi-Biasiako) and his 2 co-accused persons, namely, Kwame Antwi (who is at large) and Akonta Mining Limited.
The core accusation in the case is that Chairman Wontumi, without ever obtaining the required ministerial approval, gave his mining concession in Samreboi to some people to use for galamsey. We called 4 witnesses in all.
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Our first witness was one of the galamsey headmen. He was arrested together with other galamseyers in an Akonta Mining office on the concession. The headman testified that he, indeed, supervised several persons to conduct galamsey on the concession.
Our second witness was the headman’s employer. He testified that he had an arrangement with Chairman Wontumi to conduct galamsey on the concession and to reclaim land. He also testified to how Chairman Wontumi used his political influence to get national security protection for their galamsey activities on the concession.
Our third witness, a police detective, tendered in evidence investigative statements, including one in which Chairman Wontumi admitted to giving a part of his Samreboi concession to our second witness, but for purposes of land reclamation only (and not for galamsey). He gave no money for the reclamation.
Our fourth witness, a mining law and regulation expert, testified that allowing another person to carry out mining activities on a concession requires the minister’s approval. He told the court that Akonta Mining did not have an approval to let another person mine or reclaim the concession.
Chairman Wontumi’s lawyers have told the court that they want to make a submission of no case. This means that they will tell the court that the Republic has not brought sufficient evidence to require Chairman Wontumi to even open his mouth to defend himself.
The lawyers have 14 days within which to make their submission of no case.
Our attorneys will oppose the submission of no case.
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