The Attorney-General’s Office has filed a notice of withdrawal of charges against Edward Akuoko, the General Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited, in a major twist in the illegal mining (galamsey) prosecution involving NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Edward Akuoko, who was the fourth accused person, is now expected to serve as a prosecution witness in the ongoing case.
Wontumi and Associates Facing Multiple Illegal Mining Charges
Akuoko, along with Chairman Wontumi and others, had been charged with undertaking mining operations without a licence, as well as felling and abetting the felling of trees in a forest reserve without authorization.
Both Wontumi and Akuoko pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. Two other accused persons, Kwame Antwi and Kwadwo Owusu Peprah, remain at large.
Allegations of Massive Environmental Destruction
The Attorney-General’s charge sheet, filed on October 6, 2025, at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, detailed extensive illegal mining activities carried out by Akonta Mining in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons undertook mining operations in 2022 despite their application for a permit being officially refused by the Forestry Commission.
Investigations revealed that the illegal mining operations allegedly involved the use of over 40 excavators, resulting in the destruction of about 13 hectares of forest land and severe pollution of the Tano River ecosystem.
Seven Counts Filed Against Akonta Mining and Chairman Wontumi
The seven charges filed by the Attorney-General include:
- Undertaking a mining operation without a licence (three counts)
- Felling trees in a forest reserve without written authority (two counts)
- Erecting buildings in a forest reserve without authorization (two counts)
The case underscores Ghana’s renewed legal push to combat illegal mining (galamsey) and protect forest reserves and water bodies from further degradation.
Edward Akuoko Turns Prosecution Witness
The withdrawal of charges against Akuoko signals a strategic legal move by the state, as the Attorney-General seeks to strengthen the prosecution’s case against Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company.
Akuoko is expected to provide key testimony linking the accused persons to unauthorised mining and environmental crimes within the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve.
Wontumi Case to Proceed at the High Court
The case against Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited is expected to continue at the High Court in Accra. The Attorney-General’s office has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that illegal mining offenders are prosecuted and held accountable for environmental damage.
Meanwhile, the public and environmental groups continue to monitor the case closely, viewing it as a litmus test for the government’s stance on illegal mining and political accountability.
