The Attorney-General has filed a notice of withdrawal of charges against Edward Akuoko, the General Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited.
Edward Akuoko is now set to testify as a prosecution witness.
Edward Akuoko, the fourth accused person is together with the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Wontumi, facing multiple charges of undertaking a mining operation without a licence, felling and abetting the felling of trees in a forest reserve without written authority from the competent forest authority.
They have pleaded not guilty and are currently on bail.
Edward Akuoko has been charged for his alleged role in mining in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve without a licence and purposely facilitating the unauthorised felling of over 300 merchantable trees and unquantifiable saplings in the same forest reserve.
It is recalled that the Office of the Attorney-General on October 6, filed a new set of criminal charges against Akonta Mining Company Limited and its owner, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over alleged illegal mining and environmental crimes.
The charges, filed at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, represent a major escalation in the state’s efforts to prosecute illegal mining, or galamsey, and hold high-profile individuals accountable.
The Charge Sheet names Wontumi (the 2nd Accused) along with the company (1st Accused) and three associates: Kwame Antwi (3rd Accused, at large), Edward Akuoko (4th Accused, General Manager), and Kwadwo Owusu Bempah @ Sly (5th Accused, at large).
Extensive illegal operations and environmental damage
The seven (7) counts filed by the Attorney-General stem from activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in the Western Region. The key charges include:
- Undertaking a mining operation without a licence (three counts), detailing illegal activities in the Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in 2022.
- Felling trees in a Forest Reserve without written authority (two counts), confirming the destruction of forest cover.
- Erecting buildings in a Forest Reserve without written authority (two counts), pointing to illegal permanent structures built within the protected area.
The Brief Facts accompanying the charges allege that Akonta Mining continued extensive illegal operations even after the company’s application for a permit was officially refused.
The illegal mining reportedly involved using up to 40 excavators at one point and resulted in the destruction of approximately 13 hectares of the forest reserve, severely polluting the Tano River ecosystem.
The Attorney-General had previously warned Chairman Wontumi to report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The case is expected to proceed in the High Court soon.
Source: 3news.com By By Laud Adu-Asare
