The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patritic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi, has told the Accra High Court that he was wrongfully accused of engaging in "galamsey" by private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu and some individuals.
He told the court that the complainants failed to provide any evidence to the claims when the matter came to court, adding that the prosecution rather used persons who claimed ownership of the seized mining equipment as witnesses.
Chairman Wontumi, has been charged with assigning mineral rights without authorisation from the Lands Minister and facilitating illegal mining operations on his Samreboi concession in the Western Region.
In court on Thursday, May 21, the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman mounted the witness box to testify in his trial.
Under cross-examination by the Deputy Attorney General, Wontumi, among other things, averred that he was unaware that the prosecution’s second witness, Henry Okum, was undertaking mining activities on his concession because he had an agreement with him to carry out reclamation exercises.
He further indicated that Henry Okum planted 18,000 coconut trees, with an agreement to share the proceeds when they mature.
However, the Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, suggested to Wontumi that because he did not want to “get his hands dirty,” he acquired mining equipment for Okum, a small-scale miner, to carry out mining on his concession without the requisite approval.
In an emotional outburst, however, the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman insisted that no large-scale mining company would assign its rights or lease to another party to mine when its profits were at stake.
Srem-Sai: I am putting it to you that it is because you knew that he is a small-scale miner that you gave him permission to enter A3’s concession and to mine.
Wontumi: My lady that is not true. Akonta Mining our interest is gold. And that you have to pay millions of dollars before you acquire mining license. And if the reason why we acquired the license is gold, why would we give the profit that we will gain from mining to another person to mine while Akonta Mining will not gain anything from it. So, it is not true.
He (Henry Okum) came that he wanted to reclaim the land and plant coconut so that when it matures, we share. Akonta Mining never had any mining contract with him, and he is also not part of Akonta Mining.
Wontumi maintained that he is being prosecuted because some individuals, including Martin Kpebu, accused him of engaging in Galamsey activities, leading to the seizure of several guns, gold, cars, and mining equipment allegedly linked to him.
He explained that persons who later claimed ownership of the seized items were used by the prosecution as witnesses against him while they walked free, adding that the complainants failed to step forward to provide evidence to support their allegations.
“Srem-Sai: I am putting it to you that because you knew the purpose of allowing him to enter A3’s concession was to mine you helped him to purchase heavy duty earth moving equipment to use on the land for mining.
Wontumi: That is not true. From the beginning, when I was called at the police station, they told me that Mr. Martin Kpebu says I have gone to do galamsey. And that they have arrested people with guns, cars and gold which they said was mine. When the time came for evidence to be taken the one who reported me did not avail himself for me to question him. The guns, the ammunitions, the gold, the cars are not mine.
Martin Kpebu and co. who made a report that they have arrested PW2 and PW1 that they when done to see gold, guns, ammunition’s and cars and they said they were not doing galamsey and I was not arrested at the scene where I have not given permission to any one neither has A3 given permission to anyone to go and mine on the concession and all the items they confiscated at the scene and I do not know anything about them, I rather has been brought to court and the people who claimed the items belong to them have been left and brought to court as witnesses against me.
Srem-Sai: I am putting it to you that you chose not to visit A3’s concession and to be seen there simply because you want to avoid any physical connection which with what PW2 and his employees were doing for you.
Wontumi: My lady that is not true. Now that I have been brought here what they are charging me with is that a land that belongs to Akonta Mining I have assigned it to PW2. My Lady, I cannot do that. It is only the minister who has that power to do that.”
After discharging him, the court directed defence lawyers to file their remaining witnesses before May 28.
Lead counsel for Wontumi, Andy Appiah-Kubi, prayed the court for additional time after disclosing that two more witnesses, who were initially expected to testify but had travelled outside the country, had indicated their availability.
However, the prosecution objected.
Presiding Judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ordered the defence to file their witness’ statements in 7 days, failure of which would result in final addresses and judgment in the case.
The case has been adjourned to May 28 for continuation.
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