The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has avoided an early judgement in the ongoing trial in which he is accused of authorising mining activities at the Samraboi concession without notifying the appropriate authorities.
The case was on Thursday, May 28, adjourned to Monday, June 1, after former Western Regional Minister and current Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, appeared before the court as the third defence witness.
During previous proceedings, lawyers for the accused informed the court of their intention to call two additional witnesses after two earlier witnesses, including former Lands and Natural Resources Minister George Mireku Duker, had undergone cross-examination.
Presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey, had cautioned the defence to produce the witnesses before Thursday’s hearing or risk the Attorney General closing the defence’s case pending judgement.
At Thursday’s sitting, prosecution led by Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh told the court they had only received copies of the witness statement that morning and therefore needed more time to study the documents and prepare for cross-examination.
However, counsel for the accused, Andy Appiah-Kubi, argued that the documents, together with a pen drive containing video footage of the alleged mining site, had already been filed and served on the Attorney General on May 25.
The court subsequently admitted the witness statement and the pen drive into evidence and granted the defence permission to re-examine the witness.
Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey later adjourned proceedings to Monday, June 1, to allow the Attorney General sufficient time to review the documents and prepare for cross-examination.
Speaking to the media after proceedings, lead counsel for the accused, Andy Appiah-Kubi, expressed confidence in the defence team’s preparedness ahead of the next hearing.
SOURCE: Jeffery Mawutor Attipoe, Court correspondent
