Henry Okum’s Testimony Unveiled: Verbal Agreement at the Heart of Chairman Wontumi’s Mining Trial.
In a high-profile court case that has captured national attention amid Ghana’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining (galamsey), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, faces serious allegations related to unauthorized mining activities on his company’s concession. The trial, titled The Republic vs Bernard Antwi Boasiako and Others, revolves around claims that Wontumi and his Akonta Mining Limited permitted unlicensed operations in Samreboi, Western Region. Central to the proceedings is the testimony of Henry Okum, the second prosecution witness, who revealed under cross-examination that he had no formal agreement with Akonta Mining as a company but operated based on a verbal agreement with Chairman Wontumi himself. This revelation has added a layer of intrigue to the case, highlighting the blurred lines between personal dealings and corporate responsibilities in Ghana’s mining sector.
Background of the Case
The case stems from events in 2024, when Akonta Mining’s concession in Samreboi became the site of alleged illegal activities. Akonta Mining Limited, incorporated in November 2010 with mining and exploration as its principal business, operates primarily in the Tarkwa and Samreboi areas. Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a 49-year-old entrepreneur from Kuntanase, is listed as one of two shareholders and directors of the company. The other director, Kwame Antwi, remains at large, with Wontumi claiming no contact with him since 2010 and asserting sole control over the firm.
Investigations intensified following a police special operation on April 16-17, 2025, which led to the arrest of 29 individuals, including Michael Gyedu Ayisi and later Henry Okum. Items seized during the raid included eight pump-action guns, one single-barreled gun, five pieces of metal suspected to be gold, four machetes, water pumping machines, 310 cartridges, motorcycles, vehicles, GH¢157,000 in cash, and 29 excavators (25 serviceable and four non-serviceable). The operation targeted what authorities described as devastated land where reclamation and mining were occurring without proper approvals.
Wontumi was summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on May 26, 2025, for questioning and was granted bail. Charges were formally filed on October 6, 2025, by Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine. The case is being heard at the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay.
Henry Okum’s Cross-Examination: The Verbal Agreement Exposed
Crucially, Okum clarified his dealings: “I do not have any agreement or transaction with Akonta Mining as a company, but I have a verbal agreement with Chairman Wontumi.” He dealt directly with Wontumi, whom he equated with the company: “What I know is that Chairman Wontumi owns Akonta Mining, and Akonta Mining is Chairman Wontumi.” No one in Samreboi knew the company’s board of directors, reinforcing the personal nature of the arrangement.
When defense suggested Okum mined without a license, he disagreed, detailing the small-scale mining process: Visiting the Minerals Commission, identifying available blocks, obtaining site plans, paying fees, and posting notices. Okum’s testimony underscores the prosecution’s claim that Wontumi permitted operations without ministerial approval.
Editor:
Samuel Obiri-Yeboah
