NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako also known as Chairman Wontumi
The Attorney-General has opposed an application by former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and Akonta Mining Company Limited to recall the first prosecution witness in the ongoing Tano Nimiri illegal mining case.
In an affidavit in opposition filed at the High Court, the Attorney-General argues that the defence has not established sufficient grounds to warrant the recall of the witness, Edward Akuoko, for further cross-examination.
The prosecution contends that a change in legal representation does not, in itself, constitute a valid ground for recalling a witness who has already testified and been discharged.
According to the affidavit, the matters the defence intends to revisit were already within the knowledge of the accused persons and their previous legal representatives during the trial. It further argues that the issues were adequately addressed when Akuoko was cross-examined on May 18, 2026.
The Attorney-General maintains that the procedure for recalling a witness is not intended to provide an opportunity for a party to reopen its cross-examination simply because it has changed lawyers or wishes to pursue a different line of questioning.
The prosecution also argues that the defence has not demonstrated that the proposed questions concern matters that were previously unknown or could not have been discovered through reasonable diligence at the time of the original cross-examination.
It is therefore asking the court to summarily dismiss the application to recall the witness.
The application follows a request by counsel for Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, to have Akuoko return to the witness box after the prosecution closed its case. The court had directed the defence to file a formal application for the recall.
Akuoko, a former General Manager of Akonta Mining, was initially among the accused persons but later became a prosecution witness after charges against him were withdrawn. His testimony formed part of the State’s case concerning alleged mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
Wontumi, Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person are facing charges arising from alleged unauthorised mining and other activities in the forest reserve. They have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations are yet to be determined by the court.
