Omanghana
An Accra High Court has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking to formally withdraw from representing Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in a high-profile criminal case involving alleged illegal mining activities.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, means that Appiah-Kubi remains the counsel of record for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman and Akonta Mining Limited, despite his earlier attempt to step away from the case.
Court Finds Withdrawal Application Incompetent
The Criminal Division of the High Court struck out the application, describing it as procedurally flawed and unsupported by the applicable rules governing criminal proceedings.
According to the court, the motion failed on several key grounds:
No Legal Basis for the Application
The judge held that the request was not backed by any statutory provision, procedural rule, or judicial precedent. The court noted that in criminal matters, legal practitioners generally do not require judicial approval to cease representing a client.
Failure to Notify the Client
The court also found that the application had not been formally served on Chairman Wontumi. Without evidence that the accused had been properly informed, the court concluded that granting the request could prejudice the client’s ability to prepare for subsequent stages of the trial.
In its ruling, the court emphasized that decisions regarding legal representation are fundamentally matters between a lawyer and a client. It described the interlocutory application as inconsistent with established criminal procedure and therefore incompetent.
Appiah-Kubi filed the application to withdraw on June 5, 2026, reportedly citing personal frustration and disagreements arising from earlier court rulings in the case. He indicated that his disappointment with those decisions could affect his ability to maintain the necessary objectivity in representing his client.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Srem-Sai, opposed the request through a preliminary legal objection filed on June 12, 2026, arguing against the lawyer’s formal exit from the proceedings.
Following the court’s decision, lawyer and former Member of Parliament Samuel Atta Akyea has taken on the active role in defending Chairman Wontumi.
Speaking to the media, Atta Akyea clarified that Appiah-Kubi was not dismissed from the legal team but had voluntarily sought to step aside. He explained that responsibilities within the defense team have since been reorganized to ensure continuity throughout the trial.
The case centers on allegations of illegal mining activities linked to operations by Akonta Mining Limited within the Samreboi area, including the Aboi Forest Reserve concession.
Despite the changes within the defense team, the court’s timetable remains unchanged. All parties have until June 24, 2026, to file their written addresses, while the High Court is scheduled to deliver its final judgment on July 3, 2026.
The proceedings continue to attract significant public attention given the prominence of the accused and the broader national focus on combating illegal mining.
Source: Omanghana
