Wontumi trial: Assignments of mineral rights are done through written instruments - Mireku Duker 

George Mireku Duker told the High Court on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, that "when an assignment is being made, it is done in a written instrument and not orally." This testimony was given while he was in the witness box for the defence in the trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Wontumi, and his company. Mr. Duker said that during his tenure as Deputy Minister, any formal assignment under section 14(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) would have been routed to his office.

Wontumi and his company are facing six counts relating to allegations that they permitted Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company's concession without prior ministerial approval, while also facilitating unlicensed mining activities. Mireku Duker testified that mining concessionaires in Ghana were routinely permitted to authorise environmental reclamation work on their concessions without that arrangement constituting an assignment of mineral rights under section 14(1) of Act 703. He also testified that his office received reports of illegal mining activity on the concession by external illegal miners who had invaded the site.

Mr. Duker stated that he personally led a security team to the concession to arrest illegal miners and had them paraded at the entrance, with media present to document the exercise. He added that a helicopter was deployed on one such occasion. The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, confronted the witness by suggesting to him that a person who failed to put an assignment or any other activity in section 14(1) had not complied with the law.