Chairman Wontumi Trial: Defence Wins Right to Re-Cross-Examine Key Witness in Tano Nimiri Mining Case

The High Court in Accra has granted defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea permission to recall the first prosecution witness for additional cross-examination in the ongoing criminal trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), widely known as Chairman Wontumi. The application was made after the Attorney-General formally closed the prosecution's case, and the matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, 18 November for the recall to proceed before Justice Ruby Aryeetey.

Where the Case Stands

The prosecution rested its case having called three witnesses in total. The final witness, police detective Eugene Akpor Glover, made a significant concession during cross-examination by Mr Akyea — acknowledging that Chairman Wontumi never personally operated any machinery at the Tano Nimiri mining concession in the Ashanti Region. However, Detective Glover maintained that the accused had nonetheless aided and facilitated others in carrying out illegal mining activities at the site, which is at the heart of the prosecution's argument.

Mr Akyea's application to bring back the first prosecution witness was not opposed by the Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who is leading the prosecution. The court's decision to grant the recall gives the defence an opportunity to probe earlier testimony further before Chairman Wontumi's legal team presents its own case.

The Charges Against Chairman Wontumi

Chairman Wontumi and his company face a total of six counts arising from alleged activities at the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. The charges include undertaking mining operations without a valid licence, the unlawful felling of trees in a forest reserve without written authorisation from the relevant forest authority, and abetting such illegal acts. Specifically, the accused has been charged under two counts of abetting the unauthorised felling of trees, contrary to the Forest Protection Act, 1974 (NRCD 243), as amended, and Section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The prosecution alleges that more than 300 merchantable trees, along with an unquantifiable number of saplings, were destroyed within the forest reserve — losses that environmental experts and forestry officials consider enormously damaging to Ghana's diminishing forest cover.

Why It Matters for Ghana

The Tano Nimiri case is one of the most high-profile prosecutions linked to Ghana's prolonged battle against illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey. That a former regional chairman of a major political party stands in the dock on charges of this nature signals an attempt — at least in principle — to hold powerful figures accountable for environmental destruction, regardless of political standing.

Ghana's forest reserves have suffered severe degradation over the past decade, with galamsey operations blamed for the pollution of rivers, the loss of biodiversity, and the destruction of farmlands in communities across the country. The Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region is considered an ecologically sensitive zone, making the alleged scale of destruction — over 300 merchantable trees — particularly alarming.

Legal analysts note that the recall of the first prosecution witness before the defence opens its own case could prove a crucial tactical move. It affords Mr Akyea the chance to identify inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence ahead of the defence presentation, potentially strengthening the case for acquittal. The outcome of this trial will be closely watched as a barometer for how seriously Ghana's justice system treats environmental crimes committed by influential individuals.

• Six charges: Chairman Wontumi and his company face counts including unlicensed mining and illegal tree felling.
• Key concession: Police detective admitted Wontumi did not personally operate machinery at the site.
• Next hearing: Case adjourned to Tuesday, 18 November for recall of the first prosecution witness.