An Accra High Court has dismissed a request filed by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking further disclosures from State prosecutors in his ongoing illegal mining case.
Presiding Judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that after considering arguments from both the defence and Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai, there was no basis to compel the State to produce additional documents. The court noted that prosecutors had stated plainly that they did not possess the records the defence was requesting and were also unable to obtain them.
The matter has been adjourned to December 15 for the continuation of the Case Management Conference.
During the hearing, defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi informed the court that the legal team had filed a motion asking the State to provide further disclosures. He argued that the prosecution intended to rely on a mining document allegedly signed by Wontumi and another party.
He urged the court to direct the prosecution to supply all relevant documents necessary for the defence.
However, the Deputy Attorney-General opposed the motion, stressing that the State did not have the document being demanded — identified as a deed of assignment.
The court also addressed issues relating to Wontumi’s bail conditions. It emerged that although the court had earlier instructed the accused to report to the case investigator, that directive had not been implemented by the investigator. As a result, the judge ordered that Wontumi should instead report to the court registrar, who will keep a proper record of each report.
Chairman Wontumi, along with his company Akonta Mining Limited and co-director Kwame Anto, is facing charges related to alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
He is accused of facilitating mining operations without a licence, while Antwi has been charged with unlawfully assigning mineral rights. Wontumi has pleaded not guilty, while Antwi is currently on the run.