Wontumi Faces Judgment Day July 3; NPP Chairmanship Ambition Hangs in the Balance
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will know his fate on July 3 when the Accra High Court delivers judgment in the high-profile illegal mining case against him and two others.
The court fixed the date after the defence closed its case on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, following the testimony of its fifth and final witness, bringing months of legal proceedings to a critical stage.
The final defence witness, Evans Addae, was cross-examined by Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem Sai, after which the defence officially rested its case.
Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused are standing trial over allegations of illegal mining activities at a concession in Samreboi in the Western Region.
With the verdict now just weeks away, political observers believe the outcome could have significant implications for Wontumi’s future political ambitions, particularly any potential bid for the national chairmanship of the NPP.
At the close of proceedings, the court directed both the prosecution and defence to file their written addresses by June 17, ahead of the final judgment.
The case has attracted considerable public and political attention, featuring testimony from several prosecution and defence witnesses, including former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
Reacting to the court’s decision to set a judgment date, one of Wontumi’s lawyers, Tetteh Thompson, expressed confidence in the outcome.
“On our part, we have done what is necessary, and we are very convinced that the system will work and the court will do the needful,” he told Joy News.
As the countdown to July 3 begins, all eyes will be on the court’s final determination on whether the prosecution has successfully proved its case against Chairman Wontumi and the two other accused persons.
The verdict is expected to mark the end of a closely watched legal battle whose outcome could reverberate beyond the courtroom and into the political landscape of the NPP.
