The State has dropped all criminal charges against Edward Akuoko, a manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited, after he agreed to testify for prosecution in the ongoing illegal mining case involving the company and its officials.
A formal notice filed at the High Court in Accra and signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai on 3 November said the withdrawal was made in line with Section 59 of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
The filing formally discharged Akuoko, who had been listed as the fourth accused person in the case.
The state’s decision follows Akuoko’s cooperation with prosecutors, reportedly including an agreement to provide testimony against key figures linked to the company’s alleged illegal operations.
The case, titled The Republic versus Akonta Mining Company Limited, involves several accused persons, including the company’s owner and Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and Operations Manager Kwadwo Owusu Bempah, who is currently at large.
Court records show that the accused face multiple charges, including undertaking mining operations without a licence, felling trees in a forest reserve without authorisation, and erecting structures in a forest reserve without approval. The allegations relate to operations said to have taken place within the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
According to prosecutors, Akonta Mining transported excavators and workers into the forest in 2022 despite an earlier rejection of its application to mine within the protected area. The operations allegedly caused severe environmental damage, affecting more than 13 hectares of forest land and polluting parts of the Tano River.
In a related development, the court last week rescinded a bench warrant issued for the arrest of Chairman Wontumi after he appeared before the court with his legal team.
The case remains ongoing against Akonta Mining and other accused persons.
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