An Accra High Court has dismissed an application by lawyers of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking additional disclosures from state prosecutors in his ongoing illegal mining trial.
The defence, led by Andy Appiah-Kubi, had argued that the requested documents were crucial for preparing their case.
The matter came up for hearing on Monday, December 8, after an earlier adjournment on November 25, 2025, when counsel indicated their intention to file the formal application.
During Monday’s proceedings, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai opposed the request and urged the court to dismiss it. After hearing both sides, presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay struck out the application.
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, lead counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi welcomed the ruling, saying it confirmed their long-held view that the prosecution did not possess the documents being sought.
“We are fully satisfied with the decision of the court. It is consistent with what we expected,” Mr Appiah-Kubi stated.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial alongside Kwame Antwi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, on six criminal charges filed by the Office of the Attorney-General in October 2025.
The charges relate to alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region and are brought under provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).