High Court to rule on Wontumi's no-case submission March 16

A High Court in Accra will next week decide whether Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, should be called upon to respond to criminal allegations in open defence.

The ruling, scheduled for 16 March 2026, will determine whether the prosecution has established enough evidence for the case to proceed to the next stage.

Mr Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, is standing trial together with Akonta Mining Company Ltd. The case centres on claims that the company allowed two individuals to carry out mining activities on its concession without first securing approval from the sector minister.

Those two individuals, identified in court as Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, are said to have operated on the concession without the required authorisation.

The Attorney-General has filed six charges in the matter. They include allegations of permitting unauthorised mining activity and facilitating illegal mining.

The question now before the court is whether the evidence led by the state is strong enough to require an answer from the accused.

That issue arose after the prosecution closed its case, having called four witnesses.

Lawyers for Mr Boasiako and the company then made a submission of no case to answer, asking the court to acquit and discharge their clients without requiring them to mount a defence.

According to defence counsel, the prosecution failed to prove the essential elements of the offences. They argued that the case was undermined by major evidential gaps, as well as concerns about the quality and dependability of the material presented.

The judge is now expected to decide whether a prima facie case has been made. That decision will determine whether Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining must open their defence or whether the case ends at this stage.