By Grace Zigah
In a major development in the ongoing criminal trial involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a key prosecution witness admitted under cross-examination that he has no documentary evidence to support claims that Wontumi assigned the Samreboi mining concession to an individual named Henry Okum.
Michael Gyedu Ayisi, an artisanal miner and the first prosecution witness in the case, appeared before the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay.
Ayisi told the court that his belief regarding the alleged assignment of the concession was based solely on statements from Henry Okum and not on any formal documentation he had seen.
When asked if he had observed a deed of assignment or any concession-related document indicating that Wontumi had transferred mining rights, Ayisi responded categorically: “I have not seen any document.”
Further questioning revealed that Ayisi had no knowledge of the exact boundaries of the Samreboi concession, had never personally met Chairman Wontumi, and had no formal training in mining, having learned the trade informally “on the job.”
He explained that his understanding of the concession’s ownership came entirely from Okum, who took him to the Samreboi site in the Western Region.
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Despite this, Ayisi asserted that it was widely believed in the community that the land belonged to Chairman Wontumi, insisting, “even a child knows” the land is his.
Ayisi also adopted his earlier witness statement dated October 6, 2025, describing his role as an administrator and supervisor under Henry Okum at the Samreboi site.
In that capacity, he supervised mining operations in unmined areas and oversaw reclamation and coconut planting in previously mined portions of the land.
During cross-examination by Wontumi’s lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, Ayisi admitted that he had extracted gold from the site and handed it over to Henry Okum on multiple occasions, although he could not quantify the value or frequency of the transactions.
Chairman Wontumi faces charges, including permitting mining operations on his Samreboi concession without the requisite approvals, in violation of Ghanaian mining laws.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
This testimony comes amid heightened political and public interest, with Wontumi currently attending to campaign obligations for the NPP.
In a recent statement to party members, he affirmed his unwavering support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and instructed party structures across the Ashanti Region to mobilize fully behind him, despite his temporary absence from campaign activities.
The trial, which continues to attract significant attention due to the political stature of the accused, highlights ongoing concerns about illegal mining practices in Ghana and the need for clear evidence in prosecuting alleged mining-related offences.
