An Accra court has set a decisive deadline in the criminal trial of prominent mining magnate Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, ordering his legal team to produce any remaining witnesses by Thursday, May 28, 2026, or risk closing the defence entirely.
The ruling, handed down in the ongoing case of Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako & 2 Others, marks what could be the final chapter in a closely watched trial that has drawn significant public and political attention in Ghana.
Defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi had appealed to the court for additional time to call further witnesses, following testimony already given by Wontumi himself. However, the application met with firm resistance from the prosecution.
Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai argued that the defence had previously assured the court that witnesses would be available and ready to testify, a commitment it failed to honour. He further noted that no witness statements had been filed to support the case for another adjournment, and pointed out that court rules permit the trial to be closed where witnesses remain unavailable for cross-examination.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, the court granted the defence one final opportunity. The presiding judge made clear, however, that this extension comes with firm consequences. Should the defence fail to present its witnesses by the deadline, the court will treat the defence case as closed, proceed to final addresses from both sides, and then set a date for judgment.
The ruling indicates that a final verdict in the Wontumi trial could be imminent, potentially bringing to a close one of the most high-profile criminal proceedings in Ghana in recent years.
