Samuel Atta Akyea, the new counsel for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has revealed he will plead with the court to reschedule Wontumi’s Samreboi illegal mining case.
According to Wontumi’s new Lawyer, the court must reschedule the July 3 judgment date in Chairman Wontumi’s Samreboi illegal mining case to ensure a fair trial.
Speaking to the media, Samuel Atta Akyea, Wontumi’s new lawyer, stated, “I have taken over the criminal case that Lawyer Appiah Kubi was handling. I’ll plead the court because if you want to have a fair trial, and if you want our input as part of the thinking of the Judge, we should be allowed time so we will be able to do what is necessary.”
Earlier, Samuel Atta Akyea explained the decision to represent his new client.
Atta Akyea highlighted that he decided to ensure that Wontumi was not left without legal representation at a critical stage of his criminal case.
According to Atta Akyea, the case is highly sensitive and adding that allowing an accused person to face proceedings without counsel would not serve the interests of justice.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, June 15, Atta Akyea explained, “I think that this case is very sensitive. For him not to have legal representation at this stage will not sit well with the criminal justice delivery system”.
“Andy had indicated to my latest client that he wanted to exit the case, so he was not fired. It was his voluntary announcement to Wontumi that, for some considerations, he did not see himself continuing with the case,” Atta Akyea explained.
“It is too sensitive a stage for him to be abandoned, and I can say that was one of the considerations that made me elect to help him,” he said.
Atta Akyea also added that defence lawyers are expected to marshal the evidence and present written submissions aimed at proving that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The strength of the written submission, if it is based on evidence and law, can be good enough to secure an acquittal. Most lawyers will agree with me that that is how it works,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Accra High Court has thrown out an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking leave to withdraw his legal representation in the ongoing criminal case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited and Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Reports suggest the court upheld a preliminary objection filed by the Attorney-General, ruling that the application was incompetent and had no legal requirement for counsel to seek the court’s permission before withdrawing legal services.
According to the Attorney-General, the motion raised no issues warranting judicial determination and should therefore not be entertained.
The court, in its ruling, sustained the State’s objection and struck out the application.
It further directed that the filing of closing addresses by parties in the matter remains optional.
The Accra High Court subsequently extended the deadline for the submission of any closing addresses to June 23, 2026, with the case adjourned to July 3, 2026, for judgment.
Watch the video below:
I'll plead the court to reschedule the July 3 judgment date in Chairman Wontumi's Samreboi illegal mining case to ensure fair trial – Samuel Atta Akyea, Wontumi's new lawyer.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/Uk9JVYAVC8
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) June 18, 2026
