The second prosecution witness in the ongoing illegal mining trial involving Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has admitted under cross-examination that he did not personally hold a valid mining licence to operate at Samreboi but was allowed to mine there by the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman.

The witness, Henry Okum, who described himself as a small-scale miner, told the court he had been involved in mining for about seven years and obtained a licence in 2017. However, he clarified that the licence was not issued in his own name but in the name of a company he referred to as “C34,” which he said was set up for community mining.

When asked to present the licence in court, Okum failed to do so, claiming instead that a video existed showing a minister launching the company. He later contradicted this position, conceding that he did not actually possess a mining licence, but argued that the presence of government officials at the site amounted to official approval.

Under further questioning by lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Appiah Kubi, the witness acknowledged that small-scale mining licences are location-specific but was unable to clearly state the exact area his purported licence covered.

Okum testified that he operated at Samreboi with the authority of Akonta Mining Company Limited, which he said held a mining lease over the land. He explained that before moving to the site, he conducted a search at the Minerals Commission and was informed that the concession belonged to Akonta Mining, prompting him to approach Chairman Wontumi for permission to work there.

He admitted he was neither a director nor a board member of Akonta Mining, but maintained that Chairman Wontumi was the owner of the company. He further told the court that a letter was sent to the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Akonta Mining’s letterhead, signed by Chairman Wontumi, to facilitate operations at the site.

“I don’t know Akonta Company, and again, before I went, it was Chairman who went to the operation on the ground for me through REGSEC, and the letter that we wrote to REGSEC had the Akonta Mining letterhead that was signed by Chairman Wontumi,” Okum said in response to questions on whether Wontumi granted him permission.

Although Okum claimed to have a copy of the letter, he failed to produce it in court, but assured the court he could make it available if given the opportunity. The prosecution requested that the document be produced before the close of its case, a request the court granted.

On the state of the land, the witness admitted the Samreboi concession was not virgin land, describing it as dotted with abandoned pits from previous illegal mining activities. He said Chairman Wontumi had informed him of the illegal activities on the land and advised that abandoned pits be filled before mining commenced.

However, Okum rejected the suggestion that Chairman Wontumi’s complaint to REGSEC was solely about illegal mining, stating that the situation also created an opportunity for him to work on the land after illegal miners were removed.

He confirmed that REGSEC, led by the Regional Security Commander in Tarkwa, later raided the site, chased away illegal miners, and seized excavators found there, which he admitted belonged to the illegal operators.

Despite this, Okum insisted that Akonta Mining itself did not carry out mining activities at the site after the security operation, maintaining that Chairman Wontumi handed over the concession to him to work on.

The case has been adjourned to Monday, January 19, for continuation.