Why Wontumi's trial has been adjourned to May 18

The trial involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, could not be concluded on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after his legal team requested additional time to complete the cross-examination of a prosecution witness.

According to lead counsel for the defence, Andy Appiah-Kubi, the team was unable to complete its questioning of the prosecution witness as initially planned.

“We haven't finished. We were hoping to finish, but unfortunately, we have other areas to elicit information from him. So, we are coming back on the 18th to hopefully finish,” he told journalists after proceedings.

Appiah-Kubi further disclosed that the defence intends to tender a key document as evidence; an interview allegedly granted by Prosecution Witness One (PW1).

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He explained that the legal team has already applied to the relevant authorities for the document but is yet to receive it.

“We are seeking to also tender a document. It's supposed to be an interview granted by prosecution witness one in respect of numerous forests. We need this evidence to support our case,” he stated.

“We have applied to the appropriate authorities for it, and we have not as yet received it. So, we are hoping that before we come back on the 18th, we’ll have also secured that evidence and filed it so that we can rely on it on this adjourned date,” the lawyer added.

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Despite the adjournment, the defence indicated that it made progress during the hearing by tendering two documents linked to the prosecution witness.

“Today, we concluded by tendering the investigative caution statement of PW1 when he was then an accused person. We have also tendered the charge statement when he was then an accused person. We have tendered those documents, and they become exhibits of the court,” Appiah-Kubi disclosed.

He said the defence has a clear strategy moving forward.

“Our game plan is to move into other areas to establish other evidence in support of our case,” he noted.

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The court has adjourned the high-profile case to Monday, May 18, 2026.

Wontumi Trial: Case adjourned to May 18 as defence seeks more time pic.twitter.com/tCfEO1PVsr

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