High Court Dismisses Chairman Wontumi’s Application for Additional Disclosures

The Accra High Court has dismissed an application filed by lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, seeking further disclosures from state prosecutors in his ongoing criminal trial.

The defence team had argued that the documents being requested were essential for the preparation of their case. The court, however, disagreed.

The matter was first adjourned on 25 November 2025 after lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, informed the court of plans to formally make the request. When the case resumed on Monday, 8 December, both parties presented their arguments, with Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai, urging the court to dismiss the application as unfounded.

After considering the submissions, presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay struck out the application, ruling that the defence had not demonstrated sufficient grounds for the request.

Speaking to the press after the proceedings, Mr Appiah-Kubi stated that the court’s decision affirmed their long-held belief that the prosecution did not possess the documents being sought. He added that the defence team was fully satisfied with the ruling, calling it consistent with their expectations.

Chairman Wontumi is currently facing a six-count criminal charge filed in October by the Office of the Attorney-General. The charges relate to alleged breaches of Ghana’s mining laws, specifically unauthorised mining activities said to have taken place at Samreboi in the Western Region.

He is standing trial alongside Kwame Antwi and Akonta Mining Company Limited, his mining firm. The charges invoke provisions of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), as amended by the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).