Chairman Wontumi given final deadline to call witnesses in illegal mining case

An Accra court has given lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, one final opportunity to present additional witnesses in his ongoing criminal trial.

The court set Thursday, May 28, 2026, as the deadline.

The order was made in the case of Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako & 2 Others after defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi asked for more time to call further witnesses.

Chairman Wontumi has already testified in the matter.

But the defence said it still intended to call additional witnesses.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai opposed the request, arguing that the defence had earlier assured the court that its witnesses would be ready this week.

He said the witnesses were still not available, and no witness statements had been filed to support another adjournment.

The Deputy Attorney-General also argued that the rules of court allow a trial to be closed where witnesses are not made available for cross-examination.

The court, however, granted the defence a final extension.

The judge warned that if the accused persons fail to produce their witnesses by May 28, the court will treat the defence as having no further witnesses.

If that happens, the court said it will move to the next stage of the trial by ordering addresses, where necessary, before fixing a date for judgment.