The High Court in Accra has scheduled July 20, 2026, to deliver judgment in the illegal mining case involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The court’s decision follows the granting of an application by Wontumi’s newly appointed lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, for additional time to file his written legal submissions. The defence has until July 13, 2026, to submit its written address before the court considers the final arguments from both sides.
Samuel Atta Akyea, a former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, took over the defence earlier this month after the withdrawal of Wontumi’s previous lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi. Upon assuming the case, he requested a postponement of the judgment, arguing that he needed sufficient time to review the extensive trial record and prepare a comprehensive defence.
Although the Office of the Attorney-General initially opposed the request, describing it as lacking merit, the prosecution did not object when the matter was heard on Monday, June 29, 2026. The court subsequently granted the extension and fixed July 20 for judgment.
In an affidavit filed on June 25, Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh argued that Wontumi had been represented throughout the trial and that any transfer of case materials should have been handled by his former lawyer rather than through a court application.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial over alleged illegal mining activities linked to Akonta Mining, a company associated with him, in the Samreboi area of the Western North Region. The case is part of the government’s broader crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which has been blamed for the destruction of forests, pollution of water bodies and the depletion of Ghana’s mineral resources.
Given Chairman Wontumi’s prominent role within the opposition NPP, the court’s judgment is expected to attract significant public and political attention.
