Akonta Mining Company Limited has never operated on its concession despite holding a mining lease from the government, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, has told the Accra High Court.
He said the company had not undertaken any mining activity because it had not secured parliamentary ratification required for it to commence operations
Mr Boasiako, who is standing trial together with the company and another accused person, gave the testimony on Thursday [May 21, 2026] during cross-examination by the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, when he opened his defence.
Question: Have you ever filed an annual return on behalf of A3 at the office of Registrar of Companies?
Answer: My lady, the company has never operated.
Question: I am suggesting to you that you have never filed annual returns on behalf of A3 on the history of the company
Answer: My lady, we’ve never operated.
Question: I am putting it to you that the company is bound to file its returns regardless of whether they work or not
Answer: My lady, I don’t know.
Mr Boasiako also told the court that Akonta Mining Limited had never held board meetings and that he could not remember the last time the company filed annual returns with the Registrar of Companies.
When it was suggested to him that companies were required to file annual returns whether operational or not, he responded that he did not know.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako also told the court that he was a director of Akonta Mining Company Limited and had the authority to testify on behalf of the company.
Led in evidence by his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, Mr Boasiako adopted as his evidence-in-chief documents filed on May 5 and 6, 2026, including the company’s mining lease, letters addressed to the Western Regional Security Council, and investigative caution statements of some individuals connected to the matter.
Cross examination
The prosecution also questioned him over a civil suit involving Akonta Mining Limited and Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Limited at the Sekondi High Court.
Mr Boasiako explained that the dispute arose because both companies operated on the same land, with Samartex holding a timber concession while Akonta held a mining lease.
He said the court had ruled that although Akonta had a mining lease, the company could not operate until it completed the necessary parliamentary ratification processes.
“That is why I am saying we have never worked,” he told the court.
The prosecution subsequently tendered the May 19, 2023 judgment of the Sekondi High Court into evidence.
Mr Boasiako also denied allegations that he authorised illegal mining activities on the company’s concession or assisted one Henry Okum, a prosecution witness, to acquire excavators for mining.
He said Mr Okum only sought permission to reclaim degraded portions of the land and plant coconut trees.
According to him, the arrangement was that the proceeds from the coconut plantation would be shared when the trees mature.
“I did not assist him to purchase any earth-moving equipment,” he said.
He further denied prosecution claims that he deliberately avoided visiting the concession to distance himself from alleged illegal mining activities being carried out there.
Mr Boasiako maintained that neither he nor the company had permitted anybody to undertake mining on the concession.
He also denied suggestions that it was his “business model” to acquire mining leases and allow illegal miners to work on the concessions in exchange for proceeds known in illegal mining circles as “goodwill” or “percentage”.
“No large-scale mining company will allow any other person to mine on their concession,” he told the court.
More time
Counsel for the accused, Andy Appiah-Kubi, prayed the court for more time to file witness statements for two additional defence witnesses said to be outside the jurisdiction.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the defence had previously assured the court that the witnesses would arrive this week.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Cocuvie-Tay, however, granted the defence until May 28, 2026, to present the witnesses.
The court held that failure by the accused persons to call the witnesses by that date would result in the case being closed for addresses and judgment.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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