Court rejects Wontumi Lawyer’s bid to withdraw as judgment nears

An Accra High Court has rejected an attempt by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi to withdraw from the high-profile criminal case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, and its owner Bernard Antwi Boasiako, who is the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

In a ruling on Monday, June 15, 2026, the court struck out Appiah-Kubi’s application, after upholding a preliminary objection filed by the Attorney-General.

The State argued that there is no legal requirement for a lawyer to seek the court’s permission before ending legal representation, making the application unnecessary and legally defective.

The decision marks another twist in a case that has attracted significant public attention and comes just weeks before the court is expected to deliver its judgment.

The court agreed with the Attorney-General’s position, ruling that, the application raised no issue requiring judicial determination. As a result, the motion was dismissed.

The judge further indicated that the filing of closing addresses by the parties is optional and extended the deadline for any such submissions to June 23, 2026.

With the legal wrangling over the withdrawal application now settled, the court has maintained that, the July 3, 2026, date meant for judgment still stands.

The application followed Mr Appiah-Kubi’s recent announcement that he intended to step away from the case, citing dissatisfaction with the court’s handling of proceedings. However, the Attorney-General’s Office challenged the move, paving the way for the court’s decision to strike out the application and clear the path for a final ruling.

The latest development means the much-anticipated judgment in the Wontumi-linked mining case remains firmly on course, with all eyes now on the court’s decision next month.