An Accra High Court has rejected an application by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, which sought to compel the State to provide further evidence in his ongoing illegal mining trial.
Presiding Judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay dismissed the motion on Monday, December 8, ruling that no justification existed for ordering additional disclosures.
The court determined that the prosecution had clearly stated it neither possessed nor could obtain the specific documents requested by the defence.
The defence counsel, Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, had argued that the prosecution intended to rely on a purported mining document allegedly signed by Wontumi and another party.
He had urged the court to direct the State to furnish his team with these materials.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai firmly opposed the motion, maintaining that the State did not have the document in question, identified as a deed of assignment.
In a related development, the court adjusted Wontumi’s bail conditions. It was revealed that a previous order for the accused to report to the case investigator had not been complied with by the investigator.
Consequently, the court directed that Wontumi shall now report to the court registrar, with these reports to be formally recorded and submitted.
The case involves charges against Wontumi, his co-director Kwame Anto (currently at large), and their company, Akonta Mining Company Limited.
The charges stem from alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
Wontumi faces a charge of facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, while Anto is charged with assigning mineral rights without approval. Wontumi has pleaded not guilty.
The court has adjourned the proceedings to December 15 for the continuation of the Case Management Conference.
