The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has started defending himself in an illegal mining case before the High Court in Accra.
He is challenging claims by prosecutors that he illegally transferred mining rights linked to his Samreboi concession.
Chairman Wontumi appeared in court on Thursday, May 14, 2026, while his lawyers presented evidence to counter allegations that he allowed mining activities to take place without proper approval from regulators.
The defence called mining engineer Wisdom Edem Gomashie as its first witness. Gomashie told the court that a verbal agreement between Wontumi and prosecution witness Henry Okum could not legally qualify as a transfer of mining rights under Ghanaian law.
“An assignment is not executed verbally,” Gomashie said in court.
He explained that Ghana’s mining laws require official documents and approval from the sector minister before anyone can transfer mineral rights.
Prosecutors accuse Wontumi of allowing Henry Okum to mine on the Samreboi concession without legal authorisation.
According to the prosecution, Okum carried out mining operations on the land and later used some of the proceeds to restore damaged areas.
Earlier in the trial, presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the prosecution had presented enough evidence for the case to continue.
The judge stated that available evidence connected Wontumi to Okum’s mining activities. She also noted that the court had not received proof of payment for the land reclamation work, which could suggest that mining had been allowed on the concession.
However, the defence witness rejected the prosecution’s interpretation of the arrangement. Gomashie referred to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as well as L.I. 2176, to support his argument.
He told the court that a mining lease holder can hire contractors or service providers without transferring ownership or control of mineral rights.
During cross-examination, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai questioned some inconsistencies in Gomashie’s witness statement, especially details about his work experience.
The questioning exposed contradictions in his employment history. Gomashie had initially stated that he worked at the Minerals Commission between 2000 and 2010.
He later corrected himself and told the court that he only worked there from 2021 until April 2025, beginning as a contract employee.
