The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra has granted Bernard Antwi-Bosiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, an additional opportunity to submit his witness statements in the ongoing Samreboi illegal mining case, should he elect to do so.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey issued the ruling after Wontumi failed to meet the April 14, 2026, deadline. The businessman is standing trial over allegations of permitting unauthorised mining activities on his Akonta Mining concession in Samreboi.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, the court directed him to open his defence, with options including testifying personally, calling witnesses, or making an unsworn statement. He was initially ordered to file his witness statements by March 16, 2026. Instead, he lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the dismissal of his “no case” submission and subsequently sought a stay of proceedings, which was denied.

Following that decision, the trial court instructed him to file his witness statements by April 14, 2026, ahead of a case management conference. The latest ruling now provides him with another chance to comply.

However, when the case was called on Monday, April 20, at the High Court for case management conference, Andy Appiah Kubi, lawyer for Wontumi told the court that a repeat application seeking a stay of proceedings had been filed at the Court of Appeal and requested an adjournment until a ruling is reached. The request was opposed to by Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem-Sai, who described the move by the defence as a delay tactic.

The Deputy A-G, said that filing a repeat application does not automatically entitle Wontumi to a stay of proceedings and told the court to proceed to convict him, while referring to what he described as a failure by the accused to mount a defence.

Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay refused the prayer for adjournment and ordered Wontumi to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026, ahead of a case management conference set for May 7. Justice Kocuvie-Tey, added that proceedings will continue pending a decision by the Court of Appeal.