Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
Former Western Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, yesterday told a High Court in Accra that Akonta Mining Company Limited reported activities of illegal miners on its Samreboi concession to the REGSEC as a good citizen should.
According to him, any Ghanaian that reports illegal mining or the destruction of the environment to the authorities should be considered a good citizen.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said this while under cross-examination by the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, in the ongoing trial of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi) and his company Akonta Mining Limited, who are accused of assigning mineral rights and purposely facilitating unlicensed mining activities without ministerial approval.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi, during his evidence-in-chief, had told the court that Akonta Mining had complied with its statutory obligations, reported illegal mining activities on its concession to the appropriate authorities, and cooperated with the security agencies.
Mr. Darko-Mensah also testified that the formal complaints made by Akonta Mining Company Limited to the Western Regional Security Council demonstrates, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Akonta Mining Company Limited and its directors were not engaged in or facilitating illegal mining on the concession, but were rather the victims of illegal mining by unauthorised third parties.
“It is axiomatic that a company engaged in or facilitating illegal mining would not formally complain to the security authorities about illegal mining activities on its concession,” he said.
Cross-Examination
During cross-examination yesterday, the Deputy Attorney General suggested to the witness that he had no basis to hold the belief that Akonta Mining was a good citizen.
Mr. Darko-Mensah disagreed, indicating that he had a good basis. He said the basis is that any whistle blower is a good citizen.
He added that Akonta Mining Limited reporting illegal miners to the Regional Security Council makes the company a good citizen.
The former minister has also maintained that Akonta Mining Limited had a valid mining lease until it was recently revoked by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
This was after the Deputy Attorney General asked him whether it had come to his attention during his tenure as Regional Minister that the company had a valid mining lease.
“As the person in charge of the Western Region and who told this court that illegal mining was one of the most pressing threats in the region, did you ever bother to confirm if the purported mining lease that A3 (Akonta Mining Limited) has was valid?” Dr. Srem-Sai asked.
Mr. Darko-Mensah said he had seen the document, adding that the Municipal Chief Executive of the area at the time had sent it to him on WhatsApp.
The MP also refuted suggestions by the Deputy Attorney General that “even as a government official you were more interested in securing the interest of A3 (Akonta) than in securing the environmental and the national security of the people you represent in Parliament and the people of Ghana.”
The MP said he had coordinated anti-galamsey (illegal mining) activities all over the Western Region during his time as Regional Minister, including civil society organisations and the media alliance against illegal mining which was led by Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey.
Meanwhile, the MP has told the court that he is not privy to any communication between Wontumi and Henry Okum, the prosecution’s second witness who was allegedly facilitated to mine illegally on Akonta Mining’s concession.
“I am putting it to you that you have no personal knowledge of what transpired between A1 (Wontumi) and PW2 (Henry Okum),” Dr. Srem-Sai suggested.
“Yes, I have no information,” Mr. Darko-Mensah answered.
The Deputy Attorney General at that point said he had no further questions for the MP. The court then adjourned the case to June 3, for Wontumi to call his last witness.
By Gibril Abdul Razak
