The Accra High Court has postponed consideration of Bernard Antwi Boasiako’s application for bail pending appeal until 15 October 2026, after the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman and his lead lawyer were absent from court.
Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, was expected to have his lawyers present the application on Wednesday, 19 August. However, neither his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, nor Wontumi attended the proceedings.
The court clerk told the parties that the trial judge was unavailable and would not be sitting during the week. As a result, the application could not proceed and the court fixed a new date of 15 October.
The NPP was represented in court by its Director of Legal Affairs, Gary Nimako. Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai also attended on behalf of the state.
Wontumi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence imposed by the Accra High Court following his conviction for offences connected to illegal mining. The case relates to a concession at Samreboi in Ghana’s Western Region.
His legal team filed the bail application in August, asking the court to release him while his appeal against both the conviction and sentence is considered.
The Attorney-General has opposed the request. The state has described Wontumi as a flight risk, an objection that will form part of the issues before the court when the application is eventually heard.
The court is now expected to take up the bail application when proceedings resume on 15 October 2026. Until then, Wontumi will remain in custody while his appeal against the 20-year sentence continues.
