Wontumi Galamsey Trial: High Court Sets July 20 for Judgment as New Lawyer Granted Extra Time

The High Court in Accra has set 20th July 2026 as the date for judgment in the criminal trial of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), better known as Chairman Wontumi, who faces allegations of illegal mining activities in the Samreboi area of the Western North Region.

The date was fixed on Monday, 29th June 2026, after the court granted Wontumi's newly appointed lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, a former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, until 13th July 2026 to file his written address on behalf of the accused. The extension follows Atta Akyea's recent assumption of the defence brief after his predecessor, Andy Appiah-Kubi, voluntarily withdrew from the proceedings.

Upon taking over, the new defence lawyer argued that he needed sufficient time to review the voluminous trial record and put together thorough written submissions, prompting the application for a postponement of the earlier scheduled judgment date.

The Office of the Attorney-General had initially pushed back against the request. In an affidavit filed on 25th June, Senior State Attorney Nana Ama Prempeh contended that Wontumi had been continuously legally represented throughout the trial and that the change of counsel was a voluntary decision that should not delay proceedings. The prosecution further argued that the incoming lawyer ought to have obtained case materials from outgoing counsel rather than seeking relief from the court.

Despite the earlier opposition, the prosecution did not object when the matter was formally called on Monday, allowing the court to grant the extension without contest.

Chairman Wontumi stands trial in connection with the alleged illegal mining operations of Akonta Mining, a company associated with him, in the Samreboi area. The case is being watched closely given his senior position within the opposition NPP and the broader national campaign against galamsey, which the state has repeatedly described as a serious threat to Ghana's forests, water bodies, and mineral wealth.