By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The Court of Appeal has rebuffed a renewed attempt by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to stall his subsisting criminal trial at the High Court over the Samreboi mining case, scuttling efforts to suspend proceedings pending the determination of an interlocutory appeal.
The application prayed the appellate court to interdict the trial while it adjudicates a challenge to an antecedent ruling by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay. That ruling had directed Chairman Wontumi to open his defence against allegations that he countenanced unauthorised mining operations on his Samreboi concession.
His legal team had postulated that the High Court proceedings ought to be frozen until the appeal contesting the directive is disposed of. Yet both the High Court and now the Court of Appeal have repudiated that proposition.
In its determination on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Court of Appeal held that the application failed to demonstrate any exceptional circumstances that would justify a stay of proceedings, effectively clearing the way for the trial to continue at the High Court.
The ruling means the substantive criminal case remains active, with the High Court expected to proceed unless further legal intervention is secured.
Meanwhile, lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi said that the defence team is reviewing its options and will decide on its next steps.
These could include a renewed application at the Supreme Court or a return to the High Court to proceed with opening the defence, depending on legal strategy.