Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocouvi-Tey issued the ruling after the New Patriotic Party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman failed to meet an earlier April 14, 2026 deadline.
Wontumi is standing trial over allegations that he permitted unauthorised mining activities on his Akonta Mining concession in Samreboi.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the court directed him to open his defence, outlining options including testifying personally, calling witnesses, or making an unsworn statement. He was initially ordered to file his witness statements by March 16, 2026.
Instead, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the dismissal of his submission of no case and subsequently applied for a stay of proceedings pending the outcome.
The trial court dismissed the application and ordered him to file his witness statements by April 14 if he intended to proceed with his defence ahead of a case management conference.
However, at a hearing on Monday, April 20, defence counsel Andy Appiah Kubi informed the court that a fresh application for stay of proceedings had been filed at the Court of Appeal and requested an adjournment.
The request was opposed by Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai, who described the move as a delay tactic. He argued that filing a repeat application does not automatically halt proceedings and urged the court to proceed, citing the accused’s failure to mount a defence.
Justice Kocouvi-Tey rejected the request for adjournment and ordered Wontumi to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026, ahead of a case management conference scheduled for May 7.
The court further directed that proceedings will continue pending a determination by the Court of Appeal.
Source:
oyerepafmonline.com