Former Western Regional Minister Okyere Darko-Mensah admits to having no knowledge of Wontumi–Okum concession deal

Former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has been discharged by the court after he testified as the third defence witness for former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Wontumi.

Among other things, Okyere Darko-Mensah admitted during cross-examination by Deputy AG Dr. Justice Srem-Sai that he was unaware of the conversation between Wontumi and Henry Okum (PW2), which resulted in the latter mining on his concession at Samreboi.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Wontumi, is facing charges of assigning mining rights without the approval of the lands minister and facilitating illegal mining operations on his Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who also served as Chairman of the Western Regional Security Council, told the court during his testimony that a formal complaint was received from Akonta Mining about the invasion of illegal mining operators on Wontumi’s Samreboi concession.

He affirmed that the complaint was written and documented, and was urgently acted upon by the Security Council, as it was consistent with several complaints from other mining rights owners in the region about organised criminal groups invading concessions and carrying out illegal mining.

“I confirm, from my personal knowledge and from the official records of the Western Regional Security Council, that during my tenure as Chairman of the Council, the Western Regional Security Council received formal written complaints from Akonta Mining Company Limited regarding illegal mining activities being conducted on its concession by unauthorised persons.

“The complaints received from Akonta Mining Company Limited were formal, written communications addressed to the Western Regional Security Council and/or to me personally in my capacity as Chairman of the Council. The complaints were duly received, recorded, and processed in accordance with the established procedures of the Council. They form part of the official records of the Western Regional Security Council,” Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah testified.

“The substance of the complaints from Akonta Mining Company Limited was that unauthorised persons (illegal miners) had invaded the company's mining concession and were conducting illegal mining activities thereon without the knowledge, consent, or authorisation of the company or its directors. The complaints described the nature and extent of the illegal activities, identified the areas of the concession that had been invaded, and provided information about thepersons involved in the illegal activities to the extent known to the company,” he added.

During cross-examination by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, the former Minister, who served from 2017 to 2025, disclosed that he did not personally know the prosecution’s second witness, Henry Okum, the individual who testified that he was commissioned by Wontumi to mine on his concession.

Henry Okum had further told the court that Wontumi did not produce any formal mining rights.

Asked about the engagement between Okum and Wontumi, Darko-Mensah indicated that he was unaware of the interaction between the small-scale miner and the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman.

The court had earlier admitted into evidence a supplementary witness statement filed by the former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.

“Q. Did A1 [Wontumi] ever tell you about a communication between him (A1) and Henry Okum? A. I haven’t had such a conversation with him. Q. So you would not know whether A1 has asked PW2 or had allowed him to go on to A3’s concession to carry out any activity.

A. I believe that in your own original statement, as far as you have made mention that an assignment was oral and myself also telling you that if it is oral then the assignment doesn’t exist, this question doesn’t arise.

Q. So you would not know whether A1 has asked PW2 or allowed PW2 to go on to A3’s concession to carry out any activity. A. I don’t have any other answer to that.

Q. I am putting it to you that you have no personal knowledge of what transpired between A1 and PW2. A. Yes, I have no information.”

Defence lawyers are set to call their next witness on Wednesday, June 3.