Andy Appiah-Kubi Files to Withdraw as Counsel for Chairman Wontumi | Discuss Ghana

Member of Parliament and lead defense counsel, Hon. Andy Appiah-Kubi, has filed a formal motion to withdraw his legal services for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the ongoing Samreboi illegal mining trial.

The sudden legal exit comes at a critical junction in the high-profile case, arriving just days after the Accra High Court officially closed the defense's case and fixed Friday, July 3, 2026, to deliver its final judgment. Appiah-Kubi’s motion to recuse himself from representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman and his firm, Akonta Mining Limited, has sparked massive speculation across the legal and political landscapes regarding the timing of the decision.

A Sudden Legal Exit Ahead of Final Judgment

The unexpected withdrawal shifts the legal dynamics surrounding the defense team just as the court enters its final phase of deliberation:

The Case Overview: Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited are standing trial over six criminal charges filed by the Attorney-General, including facilitating unlicensed mining operations and transferring mineral rights without ministerial approval within a concession in Samreboi.

The Closing Arguments: Prior to filing his withdrawal motion, Appiah-Kubi successfully managed the defense's strategy, calling four prominent witnesses—including former Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah—and formally announcing the closure of the defense case on June 3, 2026.

The Written Address Window: While the court has given both the state prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, and the defense until June 17, 2026, to file their final written addresses, Wontumi's legal team must now reorganize its representation ahead of the July 3 verdict.

WONTUMI SAMREBOI LEGAL TRANSITION LEDGER:
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐      ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│          THE DEFENSE COUNSEL MOTION    │      │         THE JUDICIAL TIMELINE STATUS   │
├────────────────────────────────────────┤      ├────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Outgoing Counsel: Hon. Andy          │  ──  │ • Final Written Submissions Deadline:  │
│   Appiah-Kubi (Filed Motion to Withdraw)│ ──  │   Wednesday, June 17, 2026             │
│ • Client: Bernard Antwi Boasiako       │      │ • High Court Verdict & Final Judgment: │
│   (Chairman Wontumi) & Akonta Mining   │      │   Scheduled for Friday, July 3, 2026   │


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