High Court strikes out Andy Appiah-Kubi’s bid to withdraw from Wontumi’s illegal mining case

Three men stand outside a glass-fronted building; two wear dark legal robes with white collars, one in a blue patterned shirt and sunglasses hanging from his chest.

By Yaw Opoku Amoako June 15, 2026

The High Court in Accra has dismissed an application by lawyer and former Asante Akyem North MP, Andy Appiah-Kubi, seeking permission to withdraw as legal counsel for Bernard Antwi-Boasiako in the ongoing Samreboi illegal mining trial.

The ruling, delivered on Monday, June 15, 2026, means Appiah-Kubi remains the lawyer of record for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) unless further legal action is taken.

Although Appiah-Kubi filed a motion requesting leave of the court to discontinue his representation, he did not publicly disclose the reasons behind his decision to step aside from the case.

Under Ghanaian legal procedure, lawyers involved in active court proceedings are often required to obtain the court’s approval before withdrawing from a case, particularly where the matter is already before the court.

The application attracted significant public attention after the Office of the Attorney-General formally opposed the request.

In a notice filed on June 12, 2026, the Attorney-General’s Office argued that the application raised important legal issues that needed to be addressed before any approval for withdrawal could be granted.

According to the State, questions surrounding jurisdiction, legal capacity and standing had to be determined first, forming the basis of its objection to the application.

The court ultimately struck out the motion, effectively maintaining Appiah-Kubi’s role as counsel in the case.

Chairman Wontumi is currently facing legal proceedings linked to allegations of illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession in the Western Region. The case remains before the court, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.