The High Court in Accra will on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, deliver its ruling on an application for bail pending appeal filed by Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, the convicted former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who is serving a 20-year jail term in the Samreboi illegal mining case.
The court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvi-Tey, fixed the date on Thursday, October 15, 2026, after hearing arguments from counsel for Antwi-Boasiako, Samuel Atta Akyea, and the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, who opposed the application.
Moving the application, Mr Atta Akyea said the 19 grounds of appeal raised substantial legal issues, including the interpretation of the Minerals and Mining Act and the treatment of accomplice evidence. He argued that the trial judge had failed to consider the relevant provisions of the Act as a whole, and that the grounds of appeal had significant prospects of success.
Counsel also submitted that granting bail would enable his client to assist in preparing the appeal and another criminal case he is facing. He rejected the prosecution’s claim that Antwi-Boasiako was a flight risk, noting that his passport remained with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
He further argued that his client had complied with his bail conditions during the trial and would remain in Ghana to pursue the appeal.
Dr Srem-Sai said bail pending appeal should not be granted lightly, arguing that the applicant had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to justify his release. Citing Fynn v The Republic, he said the circumstances under which bail was granted in that case were different from those of Antwi-Boasiako, who has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
He noted that the earlier case involved relatively short prison terms and concerns about delays in preparing appeal records — circumstances he argued did not apply to the present case.
The Deputy Attorney-General also said the applicant was facing two other criminal trials, which could result in additional prison terms, and argued that this increased the risk of him absconding. He urged the court to dismiss the application.
The court subsequently fixed November 4, 2026, to deliver its ruling.
