The Accra High Court has rescinded a bench warrant which was issued for the arrest of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
Chairman Wontumi, as he is popularly known, failed to show up during the hearing of his case in court today, Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Wontumi, who is owner of Akonta Mining Company Limited, is standing trial for allegedly permitting two persons to mine on his company’s concession without obtaining the requisite approval from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
In court today, when the case was called at 9:40am, presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, was scheduled to hold a case management conference involving both the defence and state prosecutors.
But the accused, Chairman Wontumi, and his lawyer, were both absent. The presiding judge, Justice Kocuvi-Tay, therefore issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
“Having not given any notice to the court as to their absence, a bench warrant is issued for the arrest of the accused persons,” Justice Kocuvi-Tay ruled.
Chairman Wontumi later arrived in court at 10:15 a.m., but the warrant remained in force till the judge, who then on recess, rescinded it later.
Lawyer for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, explained to the judge that he was to blame for the miscommunication to his client on the time for hearing of the case.
Wontumi has been involved in series of arrest involving other cases being investigated by different security agencies in the country.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of Assignment of mineral rights without approval and Purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation, and currently on a GHC15million bail with three sureties.
Akonta Mining: Investigations into Chairman Wontumi’s activities ongoing – CID Boss
