The Accra High Court has withdrawn it earlier bench warrant issued for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi).
The High Court decision comes after Wontumi showed up to court shortly after the bench warrant was issued for his arrest for not showing up to court.
The Court issued the warrant around 9:40 a.m. Wontumi and his legal team arrived after 10 a.m. and pleaded with the court for its withdrawal, which was rescinded at 11:39 a.m.
In court, Andy Appiah-Kubi, the counsel for embattled Wontumi, explained that he had informed his client to appear at 10 a.m. with the impression that proceedings were scheduled for a case management conference.
The Judge on the case cautioned Chairman Wontumi to be punctual in future appearances before rescinding the arrest order.
It must be noted that Wontumi was released from police custody some weeks ago after three nights.
His release comes after he fulfilled bail conditions amounting to GH₵25 million imposed across two separate illegal mining cases. Wontumi, on Tuesday, October 7, was granted a ₵25 million bail by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court in connection with two separate cases relating to alleged illegal mining.
Chairman Wontumi and the Operations Manager of Akonta Mining Company Limited were granted bail in the sum of GHC10 million with two sureties.
The two sureties, one must be justified with proof of landed property.
Wontumi and Akonta Mining have been accused of destroying 13 hectares of land in the Tano Nimiri forest.
The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman pleaded not guilty to all seven charges levelled against him.
In another case, Chairman Wontumi was slapped with seven fresh charges, which stem from his alleged mining in Tano Nimire Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The charges came barely after he appeared in a separate case.
In this case, Wontumi and four others associated with his Akonta Mining Company Limited are facing the accusations of unlawfully engaging in mining operations, environmental destruction.
Additionally, the Accra High Court has granted Wontumi a ₵15 million bail with three sureties in a separate case.
The Accra High Court gave the prosecution three weeks to file disclosures.
Meanwhile, Andy Appiah-Kubi, the Lawyer for Chairman Wontumi, has refuted claims by the Attorney-General.
According to Wontumi’s Lawyer, the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, lied to Ghanaians.
Andy Appiah-Kubi boldly asserted that Chairman Wontumi has not made any offers for a plea deal in any of his cases.
Speaking on Movement TV, Andy Appiah-Kubi detailed, “There is no truth that in any of the cases involving Chairman Wontumi, he was seeking a plea bargain. It’s a lie”.
The court has told the Attorney General to bring all his documents that he intends to use for prosecutions. So we are waiting for him to come with his documents so that we can stand on for the trial”.
He highlighted that the defence team is awaiting the Attorney-General’s next legal move before deciding on their course of action.
He further added, “Where we have gotten to, they have not even brought out the discoveires for as to go for a case management conference. That is where people will say, based on the evidence, we will ask for a plea bargain. We have not even gotten there yet”.
“Maybe he is inviting us for a plea bargain, or he is sending a signal that the facility is there if it becomes necessary, but so far, Chairman Wontumi has maintained he is innocent”.
Watch the video below:
Lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi has disclosed that the Accra High Court has rescinded its decision for a bench warrant for the arrest of Chairman Wontumi, following the court’s sitting earlier this morning.
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) October 28, 2025
He clarified that Chairman Wontumi’s late appearance for the scheduled hearing… pic.twitter.com/JhKezLtUET