The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, has been allowed two weeks by the Accra High Court to submit a no case to answer in the state’s ongoing trial for alleged mining violations of Mr. Boasiako.
Lead attorney for Mr. Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, Mr. Andy Appiah Kubi, requested that the court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay give the legal team four weeks to provide a case against his client.
The court, however, turned down the offer and postponed the case until February 18.
Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, did not re-examine an expert prosecution witness and attorney from the Minerals Commission during his appearance before Judge Kocuvie-Tay in Accra yesterday.
Mr. Kubi, the attorney for Mr. Boasiako and Akonta Mining, cross-examined the witness.
Alleged illegal mining activities, including as the assignment of mineral rights without authorisation and the deliberate facilitation of an unlicensed mining operation at Samreboi in the Western Region, are among the charges against them.
Four witnesses were called by the prosecution to testify against Messrs. Bosiako and Akonta Mining.
A small-scale miner named Mr. Henry Okum had previously informed the court that he and Mr. Boasiako had a verbal arrangement for him to mine on his concession at Samreboi.
Three individuals were charged with crimes by the Office of the Attorney General: Kwame Antwi, a director of Akonta Mining, and Antwi-Boasiako, a stakeholder in the company.
Alleged illegal mining activities, including as the assignment of mineral rights without authorisation and the deliberate facilitation of an unlicensed mining operation at Samreboi in the Western Region, are among the charges against them.
Antwi, the co-accused, is presently at large after being charged with two charges of intentionally assisting an unauthorised mining business and assigning mineral rights without authorisation.
Source: newsthemegh.com