The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has rejected claims that he allowed illegal mining on Akonta Mining’s concession.

According to a myjoyonline.com report on May 22, 2026, Wontumi told the High Court in Accra on May 21 that his deal with prosecution witness Henry Okum was only for land reclamation and coconut planting.

“I didn’t give him permission to mine,” Wontumi said under cross-examination by Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai.

“He came to reclaim the land and plant coconut trees so that when the coconuts mature, we would share,” he added.

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Wontumi also denied helping Okum get excavators or other equipment.

“That is not true. I do not know what work he did. He only planted trees and carried out reclamation. I did not assist him in purchasing any earth-moving equipment,” he said.

The prosecution argues he knowingly allowed mining and kept his distance to avoid being linked to it.

They allege his model was to grant access to concessions for illegal mining in exchange for a cut of the proceeds.

Wontumi called that “a blatant falsehood.”

Judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay earlier ruled that Wontumi had a case to answer, based on PW2’s testimony and Wontumi’s own caution statement.

PW2 claimed he was allowed to mine parts of the concession and use the proceeds to fund reclamation.

The judge noted Wontumi admitted letting PW2 onto the land “only to plant coconut trees to reclaim the mined portion.”

In court, Wontumi also admitted there was no written agreement for the reclamation deal and said he never visited the site after granting access.

He said he received videos showing reclamation works and about 18,000 planted coconut trees.

NAD/AM

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