Wontumi's lawyer seeks exit from mining trial ahead of judgment

Lawyer for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, has applied to the High Court in Accra for permission to withdraw from the case just weeks before judgment is due to be delivered.

Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi filed the application seeking leave of the court to cease acting for Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining, the first and third accused persons in the ongoing criminal trial.

The motion is scheduled to be moved on June 15, 2026.

In an affidavit supporting the application, Mr Appiah-Kubi said he had represented the accused persons since October 2025 and had undertaken several legal processes on their behalf throughout the proceedings.

His application comes at a critical stage of the trial, with the High Court expected to deliver judgment on July 3, 2026.

Lawyer cites disagreements and loss of confidence

Mr Appiah-Kubi told the court that a series of developments during the trial had influenced his decision to seek withdrawal.

He recalled filing an application for the prosecution to produce copies of an alleged deed of assignment involving the accused persons and two miners, Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi. The application was dismissed by the court.

He further stated that after the prosecution closed its case, he filed a submission of no case to answer on behalf of his clients, which was also dismissed, resulting in the court ordering the accused persons to open their defence.

According to the affidavit, an appeal and an application for a stay of proceedings were subsequently filed.

Despite those processes, the court directed the parties to file their final written addresses by June 17.

Mr Appiah-Kubi also cited disagreements over procedural matters during the proceedings.

"It is on record that there have been serious disagreements even in decisions on procedural matters, sometimes ending in mistrust between prosecution, defence and the bench," he stated.

The lawyer further told the court that he had become disappointed by certain decisions made during the trial and feared those sentiments could affect his ability to continue representing his clients effectively.

"I do not want my disappointment in the decisions of the court to affect my fortunes and that of my clients," he said.

He added that the circumstances had affected the emotional and psychological balance required to continue handling the matter and argued that the interests of the accused persons would be better served by new legal representation.

Judgment expected in July

The application comes after the defence closed its case on June 3, following the testimony of its final witness, Evans Addae, Assembly Member for the Samreboi Atigarikrom Electoral Area.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay subsequently directed parties intending to file written addresses to do so by June 17.

Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited are standing trial over allegations that they facilitated mining activities on the Samreboi concession without the required ministerial approval, contrary to the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to all charges and have consistently denied assigning mineral rights or authorising any unlawful mining activities on the concession.

The court is expected to determine Mr Appiah-Kubi's application before proceedings continue toward the scheduled judgment date.