The High Court in Accra has granted a request by lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea to recall the first prosecution witness in the Tano Nimiri illegal mining case for further cross-examination. This development occurred during the trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, who faces charges related to aiding illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, November 17, by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
Chairman Wontumi, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is standing trial for allegedly aiding illegal mining activities. The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, called three witnesses to establish its case against the accused. The defense counsel, Mr. Atta Akyea, made the application to recall the witness after the Attorney-General closed its case against his client.
The third and last prosecution witness, police detective Eugene Akpor Glover, had testified that Chairman Wontumi aided illegal mining activities at the Tano Nimiri mining concession. During cross-examination, Mr. Atta Akyea suggested that his client had never personally operated any machinery at the concession. Detective Glover agreed that Chairman Wontumi had not personally operated machinery but added that he had aided some persons to undertake mining activities contrary to law.
Chairman Wontumi faces two separate counts of abetting the unauthorized felling of trees in a forest reserve, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243), as amended by Section 1 of the Forest Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 624). He is also accused of mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve without a license and deliberately facilitating the unauthorized felling of more than 300 merchantable trees and an unquantifiable number of saplings.
The accused, together with his company, was charged with six counts, including undertaking mining operations without a license, felling trees in a forest reserve without written authorization from the competent forest authority, and abetting the unlawful felling of trees. The Attorney-General did not oppose the application by Mr. Atta Akyea to recall the witness, indicating a potential shift in the prosecution's strategy.
The case has garnered significant attention due to the alleged involvement of Chairman Wontumi, a prominent figure in Ghanaian politics. The court's decision to grant leave to recall the witness may impact the outcome of the trial. The prosecution and defense will continue to present their cases, and the court will ultimately determine the guilt or innocence of the accused.
The trial's progression will be closely watched, given the environmental and legal implications of the alleged illegal mining activities. The court's ruling on the recall of the witness may set a precedent for future cases involving environmental crimes in Ghana. As the case continues, all parties involved will need to provide evidence and testimony to support their claims.
Key points
- The High Court in Accra granted leave to recall the first prosecution witness in the Tano Nimiri illegal mining case for further cross-examination.
- Chairman Wontumi faces charges related to aiding illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
- The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, November 17, by Justice Ruby Aryeetey.
