Accra, Ghana – May 29, 2026 – Former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, testified on Wednesday, May 28, 2026, in the ongoing illegal mining case involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and his company Akonta Mining Limited. Darko-Mensah, who chaired the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) during his tenure, presented a video recording of the Samreboi concession, taken during an inspection while he held the position. The Accra High Court admitted the video evidence, contained on a pen drive, after overruling an objection from the prosecution regarding its authenticity.
Context of the Trial
The legal proceedings center on six charges brought against Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited. The prosecution alleges that the company permitted mining activities on its concession without the requisite prior approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. Specifically, the charges involve allegations of allowing individuals, including Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi, to conduct mining operations.
Defence Presents Witness and Video Evidence
During the court session, Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for the accused, announced the intention to call Mr. Darko-Mensah as the next defence witness. He also informed the court about the filing of two witness statements on May 25 and May 28, 2026, requesting a Case Management Conference (CMC) to address these statements.
The witness statement of Mr. Darko-Mensah, filed on May 25, 2026, was the subject of the initial CMC. Attached to this statement was the video footage on a pen drive. Counsel for the defence prayed the court to adopt both the statement and the video for the trial.
Prosecution’s Objections and Court’s Ruling
The prosecution, represented by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh, raised concerns about not being fully served with all witness statements. She noted that only one statement had been provided, and it listed a witness, Evans Adai, who was not previously on the defence’s list of potential witnesses. Prempeh requested a complete list of defence witnesses to avoid piecemeal case management.
The prosecution specifically objected to the admission of the pen drive containing the video. Their primary argument was the absence of a time stamp on the video, making it difficult to verify when and where it was recorded. They argued that this lack of metadata rendered the pen drive inadmissible.
In response, Mr. Appiah-Kubi countered that the video’s purpose was to confirm its contents, and that paragraph 39 of Mr. Darko-Mensah’s witness statement already provided context regarding the video’s recording circumstances. He urged the court to admit it as relevant evidence.
Delivering a ruling on the objection, the presiding judge stated that the concerns raised by the prosecution could be effectively addressed during the cross-examination phase of the trial. The court found the video relevant and overruled the objection, allowing it to be admitted as evidence.
Case Management and Adjournment
The court proceeded with the Case Management Conference concerning the witness statement of Mr. Darko-Mensah filed on May 25, 2026. The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. for further proceedings.
Implications and Future Watch
The admission of the video evidence and the testimony of a former regional minister mark a significant development in the Chairman Wontumi illegal mining trial. The video, if corroborated by Darko-Mensah’s testimony, could potentially shed light on the conditions and activities at the Akonta Mining concession during his tenure as REGSEC chairman. This could influence the court’s perception of the company’s operational compliance and the defence’s arguments regarding approvals and oversight. Observers will be watching closely to see how the prosecution utilizes cross-examination to challenge the video’s authenticity and context, and how this evidence impacts the overall trajectory of the case. The court’s approach to handling unlisted witnesses and the completeness of evidence disclosure will also be key factors to monitor in subsequent hearings.
Leave a Reply