The Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by lawyer Andy Appiah Kubi seeking to withdraw his legal representation for Bernard Antwi-Boasiako in the Samreboi case.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, June 15, 2025, by trial judge Justice Audrey Kucovie-Tay, who held that the application had no merit and, therefore, could not be granted by the court.
According to the court, a legal practitioner does not require the permission of the court to withdraw services through a formal motion. The judge further indicated that the change of legal representation would not affect the proceedings of the case.
The court also maintained that despite any change in lawyers, the substantive ruling in the case remains scheduled to be delivered on July 3, 2026.
Background:
The Samraboi case is a criminal trial before the High Court involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person, Kwame Antwi.
The accused persons are facing charges relating to alleged illegal mining activities at Samraboi in the Western Region. The prosecution’s case centres on claims that mining operations were conducted on a concession without the required authorisation under Ghana’s Minerals and Mining laws.
The state alleges that the activities in question were carried out unlawfully and resulted in breaches of regulatory procedures governing mineral extraction. The prosecution called witnesses during the trial, including individuals who testified on mining operations and investigators from state security agencies.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence filed a submission of no case to answer, arguing that the evidence presented is insufficient to sustain the charges.
However the submission was dismissed with the accused ordered to open their defense. The court has fixed July 3, 2026, to deliver its final judgment.