BY Daniel Bampoe
The bid by Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to secure bail pending an appeal against his conviction has suffered a fresh setback after the Accra High Court adjourned the matter to October 15, 2026.
The application, which was scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, August 19, could not proceed after the judge assigned to hear the motion became indisposed.
The development means the application will now come up after the annual legal vacation, with the next scheduled date set for October 15.
Wontumi’s substantive lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, was represented in court by Gary Nimako Marfo, the NPP’s Director of Legal Affairs.
His lawyers had filed the application seeking his release on bail while he pursues an appeal against his conviction and sentence. Wontumi is currently being held at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison following his conviction in the illegal mining case.
The bail application comes against the backdrop of the highly publicised Samreboi mining prosecution, in which the state accused Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, of offences connected to mining activities.
Wontumi’s legal team has consistently challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case and the legal provisions underpinning the charges. His lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, at an earlier stage sought to challenge the constitutionality and interpretation of provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, arguing that sections relied upon by the prosecution were vague and overly broad and required constitutional interpretation.
The legal proceedings also took a dramatic turn in June when Atta Akyea took over Wontumi’s defence following the decision by Andy Appiah-Kubi to withdraw from the case. Atta Akyea subsequently became the lead counsel and took responsibility for steering the defence through the final stages of the trial and subsequent legal proceedings.
