An Accra High Court has dismissed a no-case submission filed by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in an alleged illegal mining case.

The court has subsequently ordered him to open his defence in connection with activities at a mining concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.

This development was shared on social media by GHOne TV on Monday, March 16, 2026.

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“Court orders Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Ltd. to open their defence and answer to galamsey charges over the Samreboi concession,” the post stated.

Chairman Wontumi, his company, Akonta Mining Ltd, and Kwame Antwi, who is currently at large, are facing trial for allegedly conducting mining operations on the Samreboi concession without the consent of the sector minister.

They have also been accused of allowing two individuals to mine on the concession without authority and facilitating such activities.

Lawyers for Wontumi argued in a no-case submission that after the prosecution called four witnesses, the state had “woefully failed” to prove the essential elements of the charges.

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With the dismissal of the no-case submission, the trial will now proceed to the defence stage, giving Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused the opportunity to present their version of events regarding the alleged mining operations.

See the post below:

Court orders Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Ltd. to open their defense and answer to galamsey charges over the Samreboi concession...#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #GHOneTV #NewsAlert pic.twitter.com/TYKEND1jq9

— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) March 16, 2026