An investigator in the ongoing illegal mining case involving Akonta Mining Limited and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, has told the Accra High Court that heavily armed men travelling in vehicles branded with Akonta Mining logos held Forestry Commission officials, traditional leaders, journalists and staff of Samartex hostage after they seized equipment allegedly used in illegal mining activities within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
Chief Inspector Eugene Akpo Glover, the prosecution’s second witness, gave the evidence during cross-examination in the case in which Akonta Mining, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and two others have been charged with undertaking mining operations in a forest reserve, facilitating illegal mining activities and constructing mining-related structures within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty. While Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and another accused person are on bail, the third and fourth accused persons remain at large.
In his evidence-in-chief, Chief Inspector Glover told the court that investigations established that although Bernard Antwi-Boasiako had applied for a mining lease covering portions of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, no approval had been granted by the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources at the time Akonta Mining commenced operations in the area.
According to the witness, checks conducted with the Minerals Commission in November 2022 confirmed that no such approval had been issued. He further testified that when the first accused was invited to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, he claimed to have obtained a gazette authorising the operations but failed to produce the document when requested.
Under cross-examination, Chief Inspector Glover recounted events of August 17, 2022, when a team made up of Forestry Commission officials, chiefs from Samreboi, media personnel and employees of Samartex visited Compartment 161 of the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve to verify reports of mining activities allegedly linked to Akonta Mining.
The witness said the team passed through four checkpoints allegedly erected illegally within the reserve, each featuring kiosks bearing Akonta Mining’s logo. He added that the officials discovered extensive destruction within sections of the forest and found mining equipment carrying the company’s insignia. Photographs of the equipment were subsequently tendered in evidence.
Chief Inspector Glover further testified that workers at the site fled upon seeing the inspection team, after which Forestry Commission officials seized some equipment. However, while exiting the forest reserve, the team was intercepted by men armed with assault rifles, shotguns and machetes who were travelling in vehicles branded with Akonta Mining logos.
According to the witness, the armed men, allegedly led by former Akonta Mining General Manager Edward Akuoko, held the group hostage for several hours and demanded the return of the seized items. He told the court that the men eventually succeeded in retrieving the equipment.
During cross-examination, counsel for the first accused, Andy Appiah-Kubi, suggested that the presence of the company’s logos on the vehicles did not necessarily establish ownership by Akonta Mining. The witness disagreed.
Counsel further put it to the witness that the equipment found in the forest reserve constituted protective equipment and that Akonta Mining was not engaged in mining activities within the reserve. Chief Inspector Glover rejected the suggestion.
The matter has been adjourned to June 16, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
