The Accra High Court has adjourned the trial of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, to December 8, following disputes over the release of key prosecution documents.
Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, faces multiple charges related to illegal mining.
The adjournment came after the prosecution failed to provide statements from two additional witnesses it recently introduced, which the defence says are crucial to preparing its case.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, said the defence plans to file a motion on Monday to compel the state to release the outstanding documents.
“It is our expectation that they would have filed some documents that we will rely on, which documents have not been filed but which we believe are within the possession of the prosecution,” he explained.
Appiah-Kubi added that if the prosecution does not provide the materials, the defence will assume they do not exist.
“When they are not able to serve us those documents, there will be a presumption of the non-existence of those documents, and therefore nobody can quote or rely on such documents,” he said.
The case centres on allegations that Wontumi allowed illegal mining activities on his Samreboi concession and assigned mineral rights without the necessary approvals.
