Lawyers for New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako—popularly known as Chairman Wontumi—have filed a motion at the High Court seeking to defer judgment in the criminal case involving him and Akonta Mining Company Limited.
The application, submitted by newly appointed counsel Samuel Atta Akyea, requests that the July 3 ruling be postponed to give the defence time to secure certified records of proceedings and prepare written submissions.
This move follows the withdrawal of Wontumi’s former lawyer, Andy Appiah‑Kubi, shortly after the defence closed its case. Although the court dismissed his application for leave to withdraw, it clarified that in criminal trials counsel does not require judicial permission to step aside, describing the matter as one strictly between lawyer and client.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Atta Akyea states that he was appointed on June 19 to represent Wontumi and Akonta Mining Company Limited after the previous lawyer withdrew. He says he has since requested certified copies of the proceedings and all processes filed in the case but is yet to receive them from the court registry.
According to the affidavit, without the complete record, he is unable to adequately familiarise himself with the proceedings or effectively discharge his professional obligations to his clients. He argues that given the serious criminal charges and their potential consequences, the accused are entitled to effective legal representation at every stage of the trial.
The application further contends that granting the adjournment would not prejudice the prosecution but would instead uphold the constitutional right to a fair hearing and enhance public confidence in the administration of justice. Atta Akyea insists the request is not intended to delay or obstruct justice but solely to enable him to properly study the case before judgment is delivered.
The High Court had fixed July 3, 2026, for judgment after the close of the defence’s case. Wontumi and his co-accused are standing trial over allegations connected to illegal mining activities, charges they have denied.
Source: Isaac Appiah Kubi
