The Attorney-General’s Department has withdrawn all charges against the General Manager of Akonta Mining Limited, Mr. Edward Akuoko, after he agreed to serve as a key witness for the state in the ongoing galamsey (illegal mining) trial involving the company’s owner, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Mr. Akuoko was facing multiple charges, including illegal mining and unlawful entry into the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in the Ahafo Region. However, during proceedings at the High Court, state prosecutors informed the court that the General Manager had offered to cooperate fully with the state and provide crucial testimony to aid the prosecution’s case against Wontumi.
According to sources within the Attorney-General’s office, Mr. Akuoko’s testimony is expected to shed light on the operational structure of Akonta Mining and its alleged involvement in illegal mining activities within protected forest reserves.
The court subsequently granted the state’s request to withdraw the charges, effectively discharging Mr. Akuoko.
Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), is currently standing trial for alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve. The case has generated significant public interest due to the political and environmental implications.
Meanwhile, environmental groups and civil society organizations have welcomed the decision to secure insider cooperation but have urged the Attorney-General to ensure that justice is not compromised in the process.
The case is set to resume later this month as prosecutors prepare to present new evidence and testimonies, including that of Mr. Akuoko, in what observers describe as a crucial turning point in the high-profile galamsey trial.
