The Office of the Attorney General has formally opposed an application seeking to postpone judgment in the criminal trial involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over allegations of illegal mining in Samreboi.
The application was filed by lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea, who recently took over the defence of Chairman Wontumi after the accused’s previous legal counsel withdrew.
However, the prosecution insists there is no legal basis to delay the delivery of judgment, arguing that the accused was adequately represented throughout the proceedings and that the change in legal representation should not disrupt the progress of the case.
In a 13-paragraph affidavit filed on Thursday, June 25, Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh urged the court to dismiss the application and allow the trial to proceed without further delay.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the previous defence lawyer voluntarily withdrew from the case and was not compelled to do so by circumstances beyond his control. As a result, the prosecution argues that any case records or legal briefings required by the new lawyer should be obtained from outgoing counsel rather than through the court’s registry.
The Attorney General also questioned the approach adopted by Atta Akyea, suggesting that his decision to request the court’s records directly instead of consulting the former lawyer was not made in good faith.
In a statement shared by Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) on Facebook, the prosecution maintained that the application to defer judgment is without merit and should be dismissed in the interest of justice.
The court is expected to determine whether the request for a postponement should be granted or whether judgment in the alleged illegal mining case will proceed as scheduled.
The case is one of several high-profile prosecutions linked to the government’s efforts to combat illegal mining and strengthen accountability in the natural resources sector.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
