An Accra High Court has granted lawyers for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, additional time to file a written address in the alleged Samreboi illegal mining case.
The extension, granted during proceedings on Monday, June 29, gives Wontumi’s lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, until July 13, 2026, to file any written submissions on behalf of his client.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to July 20, 2026, when it is expected to deliver its judgment.
The decision follows an earlier application by Mr. Atta Akyea, who recently took over the defence, requesting more time to familiarise himself with the case and adequately prepare his client’s defence.
Although the Office of the Attorney General initially opposed the application, arguing that Wontumi had been represented throughout the trial and that the outgoing lawyer should have handed over all necessary case documents, the prosecution did not object to the extension during Monday’s hearing.
In an affidavit filed on June 25, Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh maintained that the application lacked merit, insisting that the court registry was not the appropriate source for the case records.
Chairman Wontumi appointed Samuel Atta Akyea as his new lead counsel on June 15 following the withdrawal of his former lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, from the ongoing criminal case involving Akonta Mining.
