The Office of the Attorney General has opposed an application filed by defence lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea seeking to defer judgment in the Samreboi illegal mining case involving Chairman Wontumi and others.
The AG office, in an affidavit filed at the High Court in Accra, detailed that the deferment is unjustified and should be dismissed outright.
Nana Ama Prempeh, a Senior State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General, in a 13-paragraph affidavit, firmly opposed the motion for deferment.
According to the prosecution, the accused person had been represented by legal counsel throughout the duration of the trial, and the withdrawal of his previous lawyer was voluntary.
In a Facebook post the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) wrote, “In a 13-paragraph affidavit in opposition deposed to by Nana Ama Prempeh, a Senior State Attorney, and filed this afternoon, the Attorney General strongly argues that the accused person having been represented by Counsel throughout the trial and that Counsel only withdrawing voluntarily and not for cause, the proper source for a new Lawyer to procure the records of and any brief or briefing on the case is the outgoing counsel and not the Court’s Registry”.
The Attorney General’s affidavit follows, the counsel for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Samuel Atta Akyea, has filed an application before the High Court seeking a postponement of his client’s judgment in the ongoing Samreboi mining case.
Atta Aykea, in his application, filed before Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, is asking the court to defer the delivery of judgment scheduled for July 3, 2026.
He is asking the court for sufficient time to familiarise himself with the case and prepare written submissions on behalf of his clients.
According to Atta Akyea, written submissions constitute an important component of criminal proceedings and often provide counsel with the opportunity to highlight key legal and factual issues that may assist the court in their decision.
Part of the affidavit filed by Wontumi’s lawyer read, “As counsel presently on record for the accused persons, it is necessary that I be afforded a reasonable opportunity to familiarise myself with the record and advise my clients appropriately”.
Atta Akyea stressed that the outcome of the case could have significant implications for their liberty, reputation, rights, and interests, making effective legal representation essential.
He argued that the constitutional right to a fair trial necessarily includes the right of an accused person to effective legal representation at every stage of criminal proceedings, comprising the period closely preceding judgment.
Atta Akyea highlighted that denying him the opportunity to review the proceedings and prepare a comprehensive submission would place his clients at a substantial disadvantage, especially when the prosecution team led by the Attorney-General.
“The Republic is ably represented by the Hon. Attorney-General and his formidable team, who will put together a written submission ostensibly to hammer out the guilt of the accused persons”.
“The sole purpose of this application is to enable me to obtain and peruse the record of proceedings before judgment is delivered”, the affidavit states.
See the affidavit below:
