Lawyers for Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a.k.a. Wontumi, are urging the Accra High Court to suspend the ruling on their client’s illegal mining case scheduled to take place today, Monday, July 20, 2026.
This anticipated ruling scheduled for today follows the court’s decision last month to grant Wontumi’s new lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, additional time to file a written address in support of the defence’s case.
However, the defence has since filed an application seeking to halt the delivery of the judgment, citing a constitutional interpretation case currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Chairman Wontumi, through his company Akonta Mining Ltd, is facing charges relating to alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western region. He, has, however, denied all the allegations.
The case has reached the judgment stage following the close of the prosecution’s and defence’s arguments.
However, Atta Akyea has argued that the High Court should suspend proceedings until the Supreme Court determines the constitutional issues raised in the application.
The lawyer has also informed the court that he is currently outside the jurisdiction and is expected to return to the country on Wednesday, July 22, urging the court to postpone the ruling.
In a statement he signed and issued on Sunday, July 19, 2026, Atta Akyea indicated that his request is made in “utmost good faith and not with intention to delay proceedings” but to allow the accused persons to have their applications argued by their lead Counsel.
The ruling was originally slated for July 3, 2026, but had to be postponed after Wontumi’s lawyers pleaded for extension.
The High Court is therefore expected to first determine whether to proceed with the delivery of judgment as scheduled or grant the defence’s request for an adjournment pending the Supreme Court’s decision.
