The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been found guilty in the case involving illegal mining activities on Akonta Mining Company Limited’s concession at Samreboi in the Western Region.
The judgment was delivered by the Criminal Court 4 Division of the High Court in Accra, which is handling the case involving Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person, Kwame Antwi.
Before delivering its judgment, the court dismissed an application filed by lawyers for Chairman Wontumi seeking to defer the ruling and refer some aspects of the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled that the application lacked merit after defence counsel informed the court that lead lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea was out of the country and was expected to return on July 22.
Holding brief for Mr Atta Akyea, lawyer Charles Boakye told the court that the defence team had filed an application on July 16 requesting a postponement of the judgment and a constitutional referral. He added that the motion had been scheduled for hearing on Monday.
However, the court proceeded with the judgment after rejecting the request.
The case centres on allegations that Akonta Mining engaged in illegal mining activities on its concession at Samreboi, with the prosecution accusing the company and its officials of facilitating unlawful mining operations.
