Lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has said he is hopeful his client will meet his bail conditions and be released from police today.
Andy Appiah-Kubi noted that although the court granted Wontumi bail, the process could not be completed before the close of the day yesterday, Tuesday.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi stated, “We made an application for bail on Tuesday, and the court granted it with three sureties, two to be justified. We are processing the application, and by God’s grace, we have had people to sign the bail bond and stand as sureties”
“It was late after the court proceedings, so we couldn’t complete the process with the police and the court registrar. This morning, the police prosecutor, ASP Godwin, called to inform me that his men are ready to inspect the properties of the sureties so we can expedite the process,” he explained.
He added, “I really appreciate the effort of the police prosecutor for calling me to inform me they are ready. This is rare. I must also commend the court registrar, who is coincidentally also called Gordon, for his effort to expedite the process”
“I am very hopeful the processes will be finalised today, and Wontumi will be released,” he added.
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.
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 come 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.
According to the court, Wontumi’s sureties must be justified with landed properties.
The presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, granted Wontumi bail on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, after hearing arguments from Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, and the Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai.
Andy Appiah-Kubi urged the court to grant bail, insisting that his client posed no flight risk; however, Dr Srem-Sai, who did not oppose, called on the court to impose stringent conditions given the gravity of the charges.
He argued, “Gold mining is a capital-intensive business, and by their own admission, the accused is a man of substance. It is common knowledge that persons of substance are often greater flight risks”.
Wontumi was granted a GHC 15 million bail bond, three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
He is also to deposit all passports with the court registrar; he has also been placed on the Ghana immigration stop list at all entry and exit points.
Also, Wontumi must report to investigators on the first and third Monday of every month.
The Accra High Court gave the prosecution three weeks to file disclosures.
Meanwhile, the next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025.