The Attorney-General has filed a preliminary legal objection in the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, seeking to block an application by defence counsel in the ongoing criminal proceedings involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and others.
“Notice of Preliminary Legal Objection to Motion on Notice for Leave to Withdraw Legal Services” is the formal title of the objection, which was submitted under docket number CR/0004/2026.
The main document is a motion filed by defence attorney Andy Appiah-Kubi, who is requesting permission from the court to stop representing the defendants in the Akonta Mining Company Limited and Kwame Antwi case.
The State contends in the June 12, 2026 notice that the application presents important legal questions that need to be resolved before the court will allow counsel to withdraw. The two main tenets of the Attorney-General’s office’s opposition are standing and jurisdiction.
“The Republic shall, on the grounds stated herein, raise a preliminary legal objection to the motion on notice for leave to withdraw legal services dated June 9, 2026,” the document stated.
Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, maintains that the issues raised in the withdrawal motion are not procedural formalities but preliminary legal questions that require judicial determination before any decision is taken.
The development follows Mr Appiah-Kubi’s announcement that he is stepping down from the case, citing dissatisfaction with how proceedings have been conducted.
In an interview with Eyewitness News on June 11, he stated, “I have withdrawn from the Akonta Mining case in Criminal Court 4 with stated reasons in the affidavit in support of my motion. My disappointment is in the attitude, record, and determination of the court so far in handling these matters before the court. I’m so totally disappointed that is why I am withdrawing.”
The Registrar of the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra has received the Attorney-General’s objection, which has also been copied to the accused and their attorneys at Appiah-Kubi & Associates (Nhyira Chambers) in North Ridge.
The preliminary objection has created a legal battle over whether the defence attorney can officially withdraw from the case at this point, and the matter is still pending before the High Court.
Source: newsthemegh.com