Court of Appeal throws out Wontumi's attempt to halt case in Samreboi mining trial

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application for lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Benard Antwi-Bosiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, to halt his ongoing criminal trial at an Accra High Court.

This update was shared in a post by user Awisi Dede on April 21, 2026.

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"Court of Appeal has dismissed Chairman Wontumi’s application to halt his Samreboi galamsey trial", it noted.

In its ruling on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the appellate court held that the application did not establish any exceptional circumstances to justify a stay of proceedings.

The court, therefore, allowed the substantive case to continue at the High Court.

"The appellate Court directed him to go and answer to the charges at the High Court,” the post added.

His legal team had argued that the trial should be suspended until the appeal against that decision is fully determined.

However, both the High Court and now the Court of Appeal have rejected the request, effectively paving way for the trial to proceed.

Meanwhile, lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has said the defence team is reviewing the ruling and weighing its next move.

According to him, the options being considered include an appeal to the Supreme Court or returning to the High Court to proceed with opening the defence, depending on legal strategy.

Chairman Wontumi and his company, Akonta Mining Limited, are facing six counts of allegedly permitting Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without prior approval from the sector minister, as well as facilitating unlicensed mining activities.

See the post below:

Court of Appeal has Dismissed Chairman Wontumi’s Application to halt his Samreboi Galamsey Trial The appellate Court directed him to go and answer to the charges at the high court

— The_AwisiDede (@AwisiDede) April 21, 2026