Samreboi Forest Reserve not virgin before mining –Witness tells court

Henry Okum, the second Prosecution Witness (PW2) in the ongoing trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has told the High Court that the Samreboi Forest Reserve was already disturbed by illegal mining activities before operations commenced there.

Testifying under cross-examination by counsel for Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited, Andy Appiah-Kubi, the witness said the forest was not a virgin land when they entered the area, noting that several abandoned pits had already been created by illegal miners.

The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, heard on Thursday that Chairman Wontumi intervened to seek the assistance of state security agencies to flush out the illegal miners, whose activities had degraded the land.

Mr HenryOkum, a small-scale miner of about seven years’ experience told the court that he obtained a mining licence in 2017, under a community mining arrangement.

However, during cross-examination, he admitted that the licence was restricted to specific areas and could not be used indiscriminately.

When challenged that he was mining illegally at Samreboi without a valid licence, the witness explained that he operated on the basis of Akonta Mining Company’s mining lease.

He said prior to entering the concession, he conducted a search at the Minerals Commission and was informed that the land belonged to Akonta Mining Company Limited.

“I was told Akonta Mining had a lease over the land, so I went to Chairman Wontumi to ask whether I could work there,” he told the court.

Mr HenryOkum further testified that although he was not a director or board member of Akonta Mining Company, he understood that Chairman Wontumi owned the company.

He stated that a letter requesting security support from the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was written on Akonta Mining’s letterhead and signed by Chairman Wontumi.

Asked whether he had a copy of the letter, the witness said he did not have it in court, but would be willing to produce it if given the opportunity.

The court granted leave for the document to be produced before the close of the prosecution’s case.

Concerning the condition of the land, Mr HenryOkum maintained that the concession had already been heavily disturbed when he arrived.

“There were a lot of abandoned pits on the land. Chairman explained to me that there were illegalities on the concession and that if I wanted to work there, part of the task would be to cover the abandoned pits,” he said.

He confirmed that security personnel, led by a regional police commander from Tarkwa, later moved in to drive away illegal miners and seized excavators found operating unlawfully on the land.

According to him, the seized excavators belonged to illegal miners and not Akonta Mining Company.

He added that after the illegal miners were removed, Akonta Mining did not return to mine in the area, but he continued operations after Chairman Wontumi handed over the site to him.

The case has been adjourned to January 19, 2026 at 12:00 noon.

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