Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice, has told the High Court to convict the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP Chairman Wontumi.
The Deputy Attorney General prayed to the court to convict Wontumi after defence lawyers failed to file witness statements.
According to the Deputy A-G, the repeated failure of the application does not automatically entitle Wontumi to a stay of proceedings and told the court to proceed to convict him.
He described Wontumi’s failure to file his witness statements as a failure by the accused to mount a defence.
Wontumi’s lawyer, when the case was called on Monday, April 20, told the court that a repeat application seeking a stay of proceedings had been filed at the Court of Appeal and requested an adjournment until a ruling is reached.
However, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay has refused the prayer for adjournment and ordered Wontumi to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026, ahead of a case management conference set for May 7.
Justice Kocuvie-Tey further added that proceedings will continue pending a decision by the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, the Accra High Court has ordered Chairman Wontumi to open his defence in his Samreboi illegal mining trial.
The High Court dismissed the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman’s application filed by lawyers for the submission of no case.
On Monday, March 16, 2026, Justice Audrey Kokuvie Tay ruled that the state prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against Chairman Wontumi, his company Akonta Mining, and Mr Kwame Antwi, who is currently at large.
The Judge stressed that the Chairman Wontumi, Akonta Mining, and Mr Kwame Antwi must explain the evidence adduced against them.
In court, the State team, led by Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr Justice Srem-Sai, implored the court to dismiss the application.
He argued that credible, admissible and legally sufficient evidence had been led touching on every essential element of the offences charged.
Dr Justice Srem-Sai highlighted that Wontumi admitted in both his investigation, caution and charge statements that he allowed the second prosecution witness access to the concession.
The State prosecution added that evidence showed the accused person did not merely allow statutory breaches to occur.
“He financially aligned himself with the unlawful operations, granted operational access, and provided logistical support without the required approvals,” the State had submitted.
Justice Audrey Kokuvie Tay agreed with the prosecution’s position, ruling that there was sufficient evidence on record that required the accused persons to mount a defence.
With Wontumi’s no-case submission dismissed, the trial will now proceed to the defence stage.
Wontumi and his co-accused will have the chance to produce their version of events regarding the alleged mining operations at Samreboi.
It will be recalled that Chairman Wontumi and other persons are standing trial for allegedly undertaking mining operations on a concession at Samreboi in the Western Region without the consent of the sector minister.
The state has also accused Wontumi of permitting two individuals to undertake mining activities on the concession without authority and facilitating those operations.
See the post below:
Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai has 'prayed' to the court to convict Wontumi after defence lawyers failed to file witness statements.#3NewsGH #TV3GH pic.twitter.com/h7eSdEycjP
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) April 20, 2026