Thursday, 30 July 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 30 July 2026

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Ghanaian press · Person

Andy Appiah-Kubi

Also known as: Andy Appiah Kubi · defence counsel Andy Appiah-Kubi · Mr Appiah-Kubi · Mr. Appiah-Kubi

Lawyer who represented NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako in illegal mining and fraud cases, withdrawing from representation in June 2026.

2026-05-072026-07-30

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

June 2026
16 JunDaily Guide
Andy Appiah-Kubi The legal team of Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) has changed following the decision to drop Andy Appiah-Kubi and appoint Samuel Atta-Akyea, as a High Court in Accra is set to deliver its judgm …
Samreboi ‘Illegal’ Mining: Court Throws Out Appiah-Kubi, Wontumi Hires Atta-Akyea
16 JunThe Chronicle
The Criminal Division 4 of the High Court in Accra has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking leave to withdraw his legal services as counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and another accused person in the ongoing Samreboi i …
High Court dismisses Wontumi lawyer’s application
15 JunJoy Online
… Wontumi’s former lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, had expressed his desire to step aside citing legal and procedural developments in the trial. …
Wontumi appoints Atta Akyea as new lead counsel to replace Appiah-Kubi
15 JunJoy Online
… Lead Defence Counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has filed an application to withdraw his representation for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (alias Chairman Wontumi). …
THE LAW 101: Can a court force a lawyer to stay on a case?
15 JunJoy Online
The High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra has dismissed an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi seeking leave to withdraw his legal representation in the ongoing criminal case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, Kwame Antwi, and Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party Chair …
High Court rejects Appiah-Kubi’s bid to withdraw legal representation in Wontumi-linked mining case
AG objects to Wontumi counsel's bid to withdraw from case
1. 13 JunJoy Online
  … This followed a request by the accused’s counsel, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, who wrote to the Attorney-General on 5 June 2026 seeking the commencement of negotiations in line with Section 162C(3) of Ghana’s Criminal Offences (Procedure) Act, Act 30. …
  Wontumi case: Akwatia MP urges clear accountability
2. 13 JunJoy Online
  … The development follows a letter dated June 5, 2026, in which Mr Wontumi’s counsel, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, requested the commencement of plea negotiations with the Attorney-General. …
  Wontumi case: Plea negotiation a legal strategy, not admission of guilt – Baffour Awuah
3. 12 JunJoy Online
  … o 9:00 a.m., will feature discussions on the controversial plea bargain negotiations involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as well as the recent withdrawal of his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi …
  This Saturday on Prime Insight: Wontumi plea deal, Sedina extradition and Mahama ratings
4. 12 JunJoy Online
  The Attorney-General has filed a preliminary legal objection at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, seeking to block an application by defence lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi to withdraw from the ongoing criminal case involving Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman …
  AG challenges Appiah-Kubi’s bid to withdraw from Wontumi case
11 JunJoy Online
Twice in just over a year, Andy Appiah-Kubi has walked away from Chairman Wontumi’s defence, and once walked back to lead it. …
Twice in a year, Chairman Wontumi’s lead lawyer has walked away

Politics

NPP directed change of counsel for Ashanti Regional Chairman

The News

Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah says the New Patriotic Party ordered a change in legal representation for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), with Samuel Atta Akyea replacing Andy Appiah-Kubi. The MP characterized the move as a party-led decision to manage Wontumi's legal affairs, which involve investigations and court appearances related to allegations of illegal mining and financial dealings.

27 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Monday 27 July

NPP directed change of counsel for Ashanti Regional Chairman
Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah says the New Patriotic Party ordered a change in legal representation for Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), with Samuel Atta Akyea replacing Andy Appiah-Kubi. The MP characterized the move as a party-led decision to manage Wontumi's legal affairs, which involve investigations and court appearances related to allegations of illegal mining and financial dealings.
27 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Atta Akyea takes over Wontumi's illegal mining case trial
Samuel Atta Akyea has become lead counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve illegal mining case, following the voluntary withdrawal of his former lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi. The trial resumes at the Accra High Court on July 31, 2026.
27 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 26 July

Wontumi's lawyer claims NPP chair knew verdict beforehand
Private legal practitioner Andy Appiah-Kubi, formerly Wontumi's lawyer, claims the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP had prior knowledge of his conviction in the Samreboi illegal mining case before judgment was delivered, and that Wontumi had told him he would be sentenced to 20 years. Appiah-Kubi disagrees with the conviction, arguing the court wrongly treated Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining as one entity, and says this will form the basis of the appeal.
26 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

High Court delivers Akonta Mining judgment on galamsey
A High Court judgment in The Republic v. Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), Kwame Antwi, and Akonta Mining Company Limited addresses regulatory and criminal frameworks governing mineral exploitation, with implications for corporate governance, statutory compliance, and the fight against galamsey.
22 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 6 July

Court adjourns Wontumi EXIM fraud case for plea bargain talks
An Accra High Court has adjourned proceedings in an alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case involving NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) to July 27, 2026, to allow ongoing plea bargain negotiations between the Attorney-General's Office and his lawyers to continue. Prosecutors told the court that discussions are still at a preliminary stage.
6 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 29 June

High Court sets July 20 for judgment in Wontumi mining trial
The High Court in Accra has granted Bernard Antwi Boasiako's new lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, until July 13, 2026, to submit written legal arguments in the criminal trial arising from alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi, with judgment expected on July 20, 2026.
29 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 25 June

Atta Akyea seeks to postpone Akonta Mining illegal mining trial judgment
Lawyers for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and his company Akonta Mining Limited have filed a motion to defer the July 3 judgment in their illegal mining trial, citing the need for newly appointed counsel Samuel Atta Akyea to study the case record after the previous lawyer withdrew on June 11.
25 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 19 June

Court gives Wontumi, AG two weeks for plea bargain talks
An Accra High Court has granted Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and the Attorney General two weeks to negotiate a plea bargain in a case where Wontumi is accused of causing GH¢30 million financial loss to Ghana EXIM Bank. The case has been adjourned to July 2.
19 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
Feature examines Ofori-Atta's legal escape and accountability questions
An opinion piece reflects on ex-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta's successful legal challenge to US immigration charges, noting that while he has achieved judicial success with counsel Minka-Premo, his case carries broader political, moral, and sociological implications beyond the courtroom.
19 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 18 June

Court adjourns EXIM Bank fraud case against Wontumi to July 6
An Accra High Court has given the Attorney-General's Office and Chairman Wontumi's lawyers until July 6, 2026, to report back on plea bargain negotiations. Wontumi is accused of fraudulently obtaining GH¢14,302,000 from the Ghana Export-Import Bank between 2018 and 2022 through false documents and forged receipts.
18 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 16 June

Court rejects Appiah-Kubi withdrawal in Samreboi illegal mining case
A High Court in Accra struck out an application by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi to withdraw as counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), who faces accusations of permitting unauthorised mining on his company's concession at Samreboi in the Western Region. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay ruled the application incompetent and not known to any criminal procedure rule, while Wontumi's legal team has since appointed Samuel Atta-Akyea ahead of the court's judgment.
16 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
High Court denies lawyer's bid to drop Wontumi case
Criminal Division 4 of the High Court in Accra dismissed lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi's application to withdraw as counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) in the Samreboi illegal mining case. The court found the application lacked legal authority and had not been served on the accused persons, requiring Appiah-Kubi to remain counsel as the trial continues.
16 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Monday 15 June

Wontumi appoints Samuel Atta Akyea as new lead defence counsel
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) has appointed lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea as his new Lead Defence Counsel in ongoing criminal proceedings, replacing Andy Appiah-Kubi who sought to withdraw from the case. Wontumi said the decision exercises his constitutional right to legal representation of his choosing.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghanaian law restricts lawyer withdrawal from cases without good cause
Under Ghana's Legal Profession Act and rules, lawyers cannot withdraw from representing a client without "good cause," though optional withdrawal is permitted in cases of lost confidence or unpaid fees, and mandatory withdrawal is required in certain circumstances. The article examines this framework in the context of a lead defence counsel seeking to withdraw from the high-profile Samaraboi/Akonta Mining criminal case after trial conclusion.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
High Court dismisses Appiah-Kubi's bid to withdraw legal representation
The High Court in Accra has dismissed lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi's application to withdraw from the criminal case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, Kwame Antwi, and Chairman Wontumi, after the Attorney-General objected that no legal requirement exists for counsel to seek court permission before withdrawing. The case has been adjourned to July 3, 2026, for judgment, with a new deadline of June 24, 2026, for closing addresses.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 13 June

Akwatia MP urges accountability in Wontumi plea negotiations
The Member of Parliament for Akwatia has called for clarity and accountability in ongoing plea negotiations involving the Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, who is standing trial over an alleged GH¢14.3 million loan fraud linked to the Ghana Export-Import Bank. The MP stressed that while plea bargaining is legitimate, any settlement must not obscure accountability.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Plea negotiations in Wontumi case not admission of guilt
Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has clarified that plea negotiations initiated by Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) in an alleged GH¢14.3 million Exim Bank loan fraud case should not be viewed as an admission of guilt, describing it as a legal strategy available to both prosecution and defence teams.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

Prime Insight to discuss Wontumi plea deal, Sedina extradition, Mahama ratings
Joy Prime's Saturday current affairs programme will feature panel discussions on Chairman Wontumi's plea bargain negotiations and his lawyer's withdrawal from court, the extradition and imprisonment of former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, and President Mahama's latest approval ratings from the Institute of Economic Affairs.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
AG objects to Wontumi counsel's bid to withdraw from case
The Attorney-General has filed a preliminary legal objection at the High Court to block defence lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi's application to withdraw from the criminal case involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and others. The State's objection raises grounds of jurisdiction, capacity, and standing, arguing the withdrawal application raises fundamental legal questions requiring judicial determination.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 11 June

Chairman Wontumi's lead lawyer quits illegal mining trial twice
Andy Appiah-Kubi, the lead lawyer for NPP Ashanti chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has walked away from defending him in an illegal mining case for the second time in over a year, citing "unseen influences" compromising the trial's integrity. The departure comes as judgment is due July 3 and as Wontumi separately seeks plea negotiations in a fraud case involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lawyer calls for live televising of high-profile criminal trials
Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, has advocated live broadcasting of high-profile criminal trials to enhance transparency and public confidence in the justice system. He argued that greater public scrutiny of court proceedings would help address concerns about fairness and accountability.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lawyer withdraws from Wontumi mining case, cites judicial process concerns
Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has withdrawn from one of the high-profile criminal cases involving his client pending before the High Court in Accra. The lawyer cited various concerns surrounding the judicial proceedings, including questions about fairness and the court's insistence on his personal appearance despite prior notification of scheduling conflicts.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP chairman Wontumi seeks plea deal in bank fraud case
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Ashanti regional chairman of the opposition NPP and a businessman known as Chairman Wontumi, has asked prosecutors to negotiate a plea bargain in a multi-million-cedi bank fraud case related to Ghana Export-Import Bank. He is simultaneously fighting two other cases concerning alleged illegal mining and running for the NPP's national chairmanship.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Wontumi's lawyer clarifies plea bargain request denies guilt
Andy Appiah-Kubi, lawyer for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), says his client's initiation of plea bargain discussions in the GH¢14.3 million loan fraud case against Exim Bank does not constitute an admission of guilt, but rather an effort to resolve legal issues under Ghana's Criminal Procedure Act framework.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP chairman Wontumi seeks plea deal in Exim Bank fraud case
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, has formally requested plea negotiations with the Attorney-General in his trial over an alleged GH¢14.3 million loan fraud involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank. Wontumi and co-accused face charges of defrauding by false pretence, forging documents, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 10 June

Defence to call investigator as star witness in Tano Nnimire case
Defence counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako in the Tano Nnimire illegal mining trial told an Accra High Court on Monday that he intends to use Detective Chief Inspector Eugene Akpoh Glover as a "star witness." During cross-examination, the investigator maintained his findings were factual but acknowledged he had no direct evidence placing Boasiako at the mining site and had not personally met the listed complainants.
10 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
Defence to use investigator as star witness in Wontumi trial
Defence counsel for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), on trial in an illegal mining case, told Accra High Court on Monday that he plans to treat Detective Chief Inspector Eugene Akpoh Glover as a "star witness" after the prosecution withdrew two witnesses. Under cross-examination, Glover maintained his findings were factual but acknowledged there was no direct evidence placing Boasiako at the Tano Nnimire Forest Reserve site and that investigations indicated Boasiako had not personally been there.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 4 June

High Court sets July 3, 2026 for Wontumi mining case judgment
A High Court in Accra has scheduled July 3, 2026 to deliver judgment in the trial of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Wontumi), who is accused of facilitating unlicensed mining on his Akonta Mining Company Limited's Samreboi concession without ministerial approval. He and his company face charges of assignment of mineral rights without approval and purposely facilitating an unlicensed mining operation under the Minerals and Mining Act.
4 June 2026 · Daily Guide →

Monday 25 May

NPP chairman challenges illegal mining case in High Court
Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako testified before the High Court that individuals who claimed ownership of seized items have been turned into prosecution witnesses against him, while denying involvement in illegal mining activities on a concession where he serves as director.
25 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 21 May

Accra court sets May 28 deadline for Wontumi defence witnesses
An Accra court has given lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) a final deadline of Thursday, May 28, 2026, to produce additional witnesses in his criminal trial. The court warned that failure to present witnesses by then would result in the court assuming the defence has no further witnesses and proceeding to addresses before setting a judgment date.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →