In simply over a 12 months, Andy Appiah-Fireplace has twice stepped away from Wontumi’s protection, and as soon as taken management once more. Thursday’s second withdrawal from the unlawful mining trial of Ghanaian rebels capped the work of a protection staff that has been working for greater than a 12 months, introduced in a former lawyer basic and broke down in a public spat between two senior attorneys, generally leaving it unclear who was really in cost.
This departure comes at a tough time. Judgment within the mining case, through which Wontumi and his firm Akonta Mining are accused of aiding and abetting unauthorized operations on the Samleboi concession, is scheduled for July 3. On the identical day Appiakubi resigned, the lawyer basic’s workplace instructed the courtroom that Wontumi had requested to enter right into a plea settlement in a separate case charging him with fraud towards the state-run Export-Import Financial institution of Ghana. In impact, he’s combating on one entrance and negotiating on one other simply because the lead lawyer walks away.
Former lawmaker Appiah Kubi has stated he has formally notified each his consumer and the Accra Excessive Courtroom that he’s resigning from his place resulting from “unseen influences” on the proceedings that he describes as undermining the integrity of the trial.
On the heart of that is Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Social gathering (NPP), popularly referred to as Chairman Wontumi. How his protection acquired here’s a story of star additions, sudden departures, and public feuds.
The timing of withdrawal is vital. Judgment within the mining case, through which Wontumi and his firm Akonta Mining are accused of aiding and abetting unauthorized operations on the Samleboi concession, is scheduled for July 3. On the identical day Appiakubi resigned, the lawyer basic’s workplace instructed the courtroom that Wontumi had requested to enter right into a plea settlement in a separate case charging him with fraud towards the state-run Export-Import Financial institution of Ghana. In impact, he’s combating on one entrance and negotiating on one other simply because the lead lawyer walks away.
first exit
The unrest started in late Could 2025 after state safety brokers raided Wontumi’s residence and police summoned him.
When he appeared on the Legal Investigation Division in Accra on Could 26, his information was not Appiah-Kubi however Godfred Dame, who served as Legal professional Normal and Minister of Justice from January 2021 to January 2025 beneath former President Nana Akufo-Addo. Requested if he was representing Wontumi, Dame stated: “That is clear,” however declined to elaborate, including: “No remark, it hasn’t began but.” He took over after Appiah was fired.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi by no means publicly described his first resignation as a resignation or gave any cause for it. However the frictions driving change rapidly surfaced. Because the combat for bail unfolded, he stated he had been blindsided by a courtroom utility he had not filed. “We encountered a problem. It was a authorized problem unknown to me. There was an utility to bar us,” he stated, calling it “not one thing that I, in good conscience, filed.” He additionally stated he needed to maintain his protection staff out of politics, vowing to “steer clear of politics and theater” and work “inside the confines of the legislation.”
Dame’s involvement was spectacular in itself. He’s now going through the identical prosecutorial equipment he as soon as led, then led by his successor Dominique Aine.
Crowded and awkward staff
The handover was certainly not a reasonably one. By early June 2025, the staff had grown to incorporate a brand new member: NPP authorized director Gary Nimako-Mafo, who was introduced in on the course of Wontumi’s spouse as Dame, Appiakubi and their households pressed for launch from Financial and Organized Crime Workplace (EOCO) custody.
Methods clashed. Whereas Mr. Appiah-Kubi sought to pay the 50 million cedis bail bond, Mr. Nimako filed one other movement searching for a modification of the phrases. Appiah Kubi blamed the applying for delaying the discharge. Nimako refused to elucidate. “A variation utility will not be an injunction utility that might halt ongoing proceedings,” he stated, calling his colleague’s clarification “disingenuous”. He blocked Appiah and stated he would by no means communicate to him once more. In the meantime, Appiakubi stated he had no drawback and was not knowledgeable of the movement. Nimako withdrew it on June 2, and Wontumi was detained for a while earlier than being launched.
Outdoors analysts noticed the staff as at conflict with itself. Kojo Asante of the Ghana Heart for Democratic Improvement stated the confusion factors to a basic drawback: “There’s a battle over precisely who represents Wontumi, which complicates issues.”
return
Regardless of the notoriety, by the point the mining case reached open courtroom, Appiah-Kubi was again on the head of the protection staff.
When Wontumi appeared on the CID on October 6, 2025 for the indictment to be learn out to him, he arrived with Appiah Kubi subsequent to him. In late 2025 and into 2026, Appiah-Kubi took management of the courtroom, responding when the state dropped prices towards an accomplice-turned-prosecution witness, and in February 2026 arguing that prosecutors have been “unlucky that we have now not been in a position to show a prima facie case” and that Wontumi needs to be acquitted on all six prices.
Within the days earlier than his second resignation, he appeared assured. Talking forward of the July 3 verdict, he stated the protection was optimistic that the trial wouldn’t derail Mr Wontumi’s bid to grow to be NPP nationwide chairman. “He has very excessive expectations,” he stated. “He’s working arduous to get elected, and we have now excessive hopes that he’ll efficiently full the election course of.”
second exit
Then on June eleventh, he disappeared once more. Whereas his first departure was quiet and procedural, this time it was a pointy protest denouncing what he claimed have been “invisible influences” and overreach in the midst of occasions.
The courtroom has concluded proceedings within the Samreboi matter and is predicted to situation a judgment on July 3, directing each events to submit written handle information. It was not instantly clear whether or not Appiakubi’s retraction lined all of Wontumi’s instances, solely the mining case, or whether or not it was formally accepted by the courtroom. The issue remains to be growing.
