The criminal trial involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and Akonta Mining has encountered its first major procedural hurdle, as defence lawyers signalled plans to challenge the completeness of the prosecution’s disclosures.
At a case management session on Tuesday, November 25, the defence indicated it would formally seek a court order compelling prosecutors to provide additional documents they say are vital for building a full and fair defence.
The accused persons are facing charges over alleged unauthorised mining activities on the Samreboi concession—claims they have consistently denied.
While the session was expected to set the timetable for the trial, it instead exposed sharp differences between the two sides over what constitutes adequate disclosure. The prosecution maintained that documents supplied on October 31 and November 11 constitute the full set of materials they intend to rely on.
But lead defence counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, argued that the prosecution had not met its obligations, insisting that other documents in the State’s possession—whether intended for use in evidence or not—must be disclosed as part of pre-trial procedural fairness.
He stressed that such materials could influence defence strategy during case management, prompting the need for a court-sanctioned order for full disclosure.
Although the defence has already prepared a draft of the application, Appiah-Kubi informed the court that it had not yet been filed, requesting additional time to complete the process. The presiding judge agreed, directing the defence to file and serve the motion on the prosecution once ready.
The court further instructed Antwi-Boasiako and Akonta Mining to submit a list of witnesses they may call should prosecutors establish a prima facie case when the trial opens.
The case has now been adjourned to December 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., when the defence’s motion for expanded disclosures will be heard—effectively setting the stage for a preliminary legal battle over the boundaries of transparency before substantive arguments begin.
